Consumer Health: Quackery

Consumer Health: Quackery

Activity 10: MAGIC BRACELET

a. What is being sold by the poster?b. What does it guarantee?c. Will you buy it? Make a comparative chart that lists reasons for buying and reasons for declining this product

Reflection Questions

Quackery

Quackery, a form of a health fraud, is any advertisement, promotion, or sale of products and services that have not been scientifically proven safe and effective (Meeks, et al, 2011). It is being operated by a quack. A quack is an individual that has little or no professional qualifications to practice medicine. He/She also pretentiously uses meaningless medical jargon and relies on scare tactics, paranoid accusations, and quick fixes.

There are three major characteristics of health quackery (Schaler & Carroll, undated). First, it is a big business. A huge amount of money is spent on fraudulent health products and services. Second, it multiplies and spreads fast. Lastly, it thrives on individuals who are diagnosed with illnesses that are known to have no cure.

Activity 11: QUACK, QUACK!

1. Study the posters. 2. Identify the three forms of quackery. Write the answers in your notebook.

Activity 11: QUACK, QUACK!

QUAC

KERY

Three forms of quackery:

a. Medical quackery includes cures, treatments, and remedies of various health

conditions that are drugless or bloodless in nature. b. Nutrition quackery

involves promotion of food fads and other nutritional practices that claim to be all-natural. These are believed to have beneficial properties of multiple plants in one product.c. Device quackery

makes use of miraculous gadgets (such as dials, gauges, electrodes, magnets, and blinkers) that are believed to cure certain health conditions

Activity 12: MORE QUACKS!

Complete the table by writing other examples of medical, nutrition, and device quackery.

Medical Device Nutrition

Activity 13: BRAINSTORM

Why do people fall for

quckery?

1. Form groups of five members. Assign numbers 1 to 5 for each member.

2. Each person is given two minutes to answer this question: Why do people easily fall for quackery?

3. After everyone has written the answers, discuss the possible factors that affect people’s vulnerability to quackery.

Activity 14: A BAD QUACK

List down possible dangers of quackery to a person’s physical and psychological well-being.

Physical Psychological

Activity 15: FIGHT THE QUACK!

In 2-3 paragraphs, answer the following question on a piece of paper:

As a Grade 10 student, how can you protect your family and yourself from quackery?

Activity 16: TOP FIVE

1. Study the poster. 2. List five questions that you will ask the source about the product.

Will you buy the product? Why or why not?

Activity 17: YOUR CHECKLIST

Complete the criteria below by supplying the missing letters. Use the descriptions as your guide.When evaluating health information and products, you must check for:

1. This tells about the source and recency of the information.

o Who or what is the source of the information/product? o Is the source qualified?o Is the information updated?

C _ _ D _ B _ _ _ T Y


2. This tells about the accuracy, disclaimer, and completeness of information. o Is it complete and correct? o Does it have scientific basis? o Does it state the limitations, purpose, scope, authority and currency of the information? o Does it have labels that contain the directions for use and storage, expiration date and warnings?

_ _ N T _ _ T


3. This tells about the purpose and caveat of the information

o What is the pupose of giving the information/product?o Is it for marketing purposes? o Is it for selling products or for disseminating information?

D _ S C _ _ S _ R


4. This tells about the feedback mechanism and means of information exchange between the source and the consumer. o Can the consumer offer comments and suggestions? o Is it possible to ask questions?

I N _ _ R _ CT _ _ _ T Y

Activity 18: GUARANTEED SERVICE

1. Answer the questions. a. What are the things that

you look for in a doctor? b. What are the things that you look for in a hospital?

2. Write your list of characteristics in your notebook. Prepare to share in class.

I am looking for a doctor that…

Activity 18: GUARANTEED SERVICE

“Health insurance should cover standard risks of illness and injury for family members.” (Meeks, et al., 2011). There are two types of expenses involved in health insurance: covered expense and exclusion. Covered expense refers to the coverage of medical services that can be paid by the company issuing the health insurance. On the other hand, exclusions are specific services that are not paid by the issuer.

Forms of health insurance are not all the same. It is important to study the plan before availing it. Here are some actions that may be taken to evaluate a health insurance (Meeks, et al., 2011):1. Obtain and read carefully a copy of the health insurance plan. 2. Ask questions of representatives from the health insurance plan. 3. Shop around for other options. 4. Choose plans that give the most comprehensive coverage at the most affordable price.

Activity 19: MY PhilHealth

Suppose you are employed and about to be enrolled in Philhealth. How will you evaluate its reliability? What questions will you ask the company? Write them on a piece of paper.

Education

Consumer Health: Quackery