Consumer Education

Health Education: Consumer Education
“A well-informed and vigilant consumer is the best protected consumer”
Consumer Health refers to the decisions you make about the purchase and use of health information, products and services that will have a direct effect on your health. If the products are health related to as health consumerism. Each of us is called a wealth consumer, and when you make a choice, you are a wise consumer. Hence, it is the importance of a health consumerism, “making the right decisions.”
Types of Consumer
1. Spend-thrift – consumer that only buys branded products
2. Close Fisted – a consumer that does not spend his money even if he really needed it.
3. Wasteful – consumer who does not turn – off or waste electricity, water and other products
4. Bargain Addict – consumer that only buys sale or bargain products
5. Intelligent or wise – a consumer who chooses the right [products and follows the rights and responsibilities of a consumer.
6. Impulsive Buyers – a consumer that buys products more than he needs
7. Panic Buyers – a consumer that believes immediately in shortage of products and buys stocks of items.
Reliable Sources of Information
1. Family and Friends – the information given by family and friends are based on experience and common knowledge.
2. Advertisement and Commercials or Mass Media – TV’s, newspapers and magazines that gives valuable health – related information. But remember that their products and each consumer should choose the most reliable products.
3. Labels and directions – all of the products must have labels which indicate detailed directions and benefits of the products.
4. Institutions – they provide factual information about health related issues.
5. Online-Computer Services – internet provides access on different health related information
6. Health-Reference Publication – many publications such as articles, fliers, posters, pamphlets, journals and brochure are a source of information
7. Consumer Advocacy Group – Non-profit organization that patrol market place
8. Professionals – Physicians, scientists and teachers gives and provide health-related information.
Unreliable Sources of Information
1. Costumes and Superstitions
2. Information based on ignorance and prejudice
3. Commercialized health information
4. Information devised by quackery




Appeals and Techniques
1. Bandwagon – convinces you that everyone wants the product or services and you should too.
2. Snob Appeal – tells you that you deserve the best. “don’t settle for anything else” is the opening line
3. Glittering Generality – a statement that is not specific, a general statement that is not exaggerated. It sounds great but means very little.
4. Testimony Appeal – a statement made by a well informed person made to establish facts.
5. Brand Loyalty Appeal – a brand is a product made by a certain company. When advertisement tells you one brand is the best, it is brand loyalty appeal.
6. Progress Appeal – you are told that an old product has become much better than before.
7. False Image Appeal – an image is formed to make you see and encourage to see yourself un a certain way. It is false because it may not happen.
8. Reward Appeal – an item or products gives coupons, stamps or toy.
9. Humor Appeal – this is in the form of slogan, jungle, or a cartoon to advertise products and services.
10. Scientific Evidences – done by giving the result of the survey about the product, doctor or a health group that may recommend or back up the product.
11. Just Folks Appeal – the product tells you that there are no surprises and gimmicks. It is natural.
Quackery
It is an unapproved, unauthorized and dishonest health practices. A person who pretends to have medication skills is called QUACKS and these person’s motivations are not ethical and moral.
Different Types of Quackery
1. Food Quackery 3. Device Quackery
2. Drugs Quackery 4. Beauty Product Quackery
Effects of Quackery
1. Delays or Lose the chance to be heated
2. Placebo Effect Experience – improves in natural reasons not for the substance that the quack provides.
3. Loss Money
4. Giving False Hopes to the patient and his family
5. Actual damage done to an individual by using false products and services.
Responsibilities of a Consumer
1. Awareness – the consumer is alert in analyzing the products and services. Inquires about the use, price and quality
2. Action – the consumer expresses his opinion or reaction and does something about the issue.
3. Environmental Friendly – the consumer buys and uses products that do not have effects in the environment.
4. Environment Awareness – sensitive effects on the people and the environment of the unlawful practices of vendors and manufacture.
5. Unity – the consumer should organize a consumer’s association in the barangay for strength and unity for their protection.
Rights of a Consumer
1. Rights to safety 5. Rights to have products corrected
2. Rights to choose 6. Rights to consumer education
3. Right to be inform 7. Right to healthy environment
4. Right to be heard


Legal Protection of Consumer
A. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3720 dated June 22, 1963 FOODS, DRUGS AND COSMETICS ACT
- Declared the policy of the country to ensure the safeness and good quality of food and drugs and cosmetics and to regulate the production, sale and traffic of the same, to protect the health of the people. FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) – implementing arm of this law.
B. THE PHILIPPINE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW; proclamation no 1881; declared first week of October as “Consumer Protection Week”; It is about the protection against unreasonable price increase or fraudulent practices.
1. Price Tag Law
- Price tag should be clearly affixed to all products
- Failure to put correct price tags; selling goods at prices other than the stated price, replacing price tags and erasing information will be penalized from P200 to P100 and or imprisonment of not more than 6 months.
2. Law on Fraudulent Advertising, Misleading or Misbranding
- Protection against businessmen deliberately misrepresenting their products through mislabeling or misbranding or buying information about their products through ad
3. Law on weights and measurements
- All balances on scales weights and measurements should be properly calibrated and sealed.
4. Consumer Codes of the Philippines
4.1. Protection against hazards to health and safety
4.2. Protection against deceptive and unfair practices
4.3. Provisions for mechanism for redness
4.4. Provisions for informative and education
4.5. Involvement of consumer representatives in the information of regulations and policies affecting the consumer.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES PROTECTING CONSUMERS
A. The Bureau of Foods and Drugs (formerly FDA)
B. Bureau of Post
C. Department of Health
NON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES PROTECTING CONSUMERS
A. Philippine Medical Association
B. Philippine Dental Association
C. Better and Business Bureaus
D. Kilusang Mamimili ng Pilipinas
E. Home Economics Association
F. Other Nutrition Group