Health 403 test 1

Certified nurse midwife

deliver prenatal, delivery and postpartum care, family-planning services, and gynecological care; prescribe medications/ Training/credentials/licensure: nursing or bachelor's degree plus completion of an accredited graduate nurse-midwifery course. national certification exam and state license

T/F Everyone should have a complete physical yearly

false

T/F Fluoride toothpaste works so well that water fluoridation is no longer important

false

Journal of Consumer Research

founded in 1974, publishes scholarly research that describes and explains consumer behavior -the primary thrust of JCR is academic, rather than managerial, with topics ranging from micro-level processes (such as brand choice) to more macro-level issues (such as development of materialistic values)

Health Care Fraud

fraudulent behavior by bona fide health care providers to get the most money possible for their services

US Postal Service

has jurisdiction over products sold through the mail (resource problem)

Nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements Include

herbs and other nonvitamin supplements such as pills, capsules, tablets, or liquids that have been labeled as dietary supplements. This category does not include vitamin or mineral supplements, homeopathic treatments, or drinking herbal or green teas.

mind and body practices

include a large and diverse group of procedures or techniques administered or taught by a trained practitioner or teacher

natural products

includes a variety of products, such as herbs, vitamins and minerals, and probiotics. readily available to consumers, and often sold as dietary supplements

DTC ads __________ sales and steer patients away from _________ generic alternatives.

increase; cheaper

To get the most out of the health-care system, consumers must be

knowledgeable and appropriately assertive

Prior to that time, the thinking among policymakers was that consumers lacked the __________________ to make informed decisions about prescription meds, and that such matters were best to left to doctors.

medical expertise

U.S Environmental Protection Agency

mission is to "protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment-air, water, and land-upon which life depends"

German Commission E

monographs represent the most accurate information available in the world today on the safety and efficacy of herbs (in Germany about 70% of the physicians in general practice prescribe herbal remedies)

For patients and the U.S. healthcare system, many experts say DTC ads do ______________________________. The American Medical Assn. has called for an end to the practice

more harm than good

According to 2012 NHIS highlights, the most commonly used complementary approach was

natural products (17.7% adults and 4.9% kids age 4 to 17 used natural products )

many ads attempt to convey simple answers to people's

needs, ambitions, fears, hopes, and feelings of inadequacy

"complementary" is when

non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine

___$$$ spent on quack remedies related to arthritic conditions

one billion

PSO, EPA, USDA

other federal production programs (Professional Service Organization, Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Agriculture)

negative option marketing

sellers interpret a customer's failure to take an affirmative action, either to reject an offer or cancel an agreement, as assent to be charged for goods or services

Intelligent consumers maintain an appropriate level of _____

skepticism

an analysis from the most recent National Health Interview Survey published in a National Health Statistics Report found. Interestingly, the opposite was true for__________: people who do this are more often do so to treat an ________

spinal manipulation; ailment

According to another NCCIH- sponsored study

suggests that people who use complementary approaches for wellness, compared to those who use it to help manage a health problem, tend to have better overall health, higher rates of physical activity, and lower rates of obesity.

placebo

the Latin word placebo means "I shall please" -the mind can control the way in which your body is acting

Complementary Health Approaches include

acupuncture, Ayurveda, biofeedback, chelation therapy, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, craniosacral therapy, energy healing therapy, guided imagery, herbs and other nonvitamin supplements, hypnosis, homeopathy, massage, meditation (mantra, mindfulness, and spiritual), Alexander technique, Feldenkreis, Pilates, Trager psychophysical integration, naturopathy, progressive relaxation, special diets, traditional healers, and yoga (with meditation or deep breathing), tai chi, and qi gong exercises.

nurse practitioner

assess patients; order and interpret diagnostics tests; diagnose and treat illness; prescribe medicines Training/credentials/licensure: RN plus master's or doctoral degree and advanced clinical training. national certification exam and state license

Protecting Yourself:

Be an informed consumer Consult with a qualified health care provider If using CAM, inform your primary health care provider Choose CAM practitioners carefully Consult only reliable sources Remember: Natural does not always mean safe Herbal supplements are not closely monitored by FDA Herbal supplement dosage levels are not regulated Look for the word standardized on any herbal product Herbal medications can interact with other medications

Questions to Ask friends about their primary care provider

Does your physician seem to understand your symptoms when you describe them? Does your physician take time to explain your medical problems and treatment? Is it easy to talk to your physician regardless of how silly concerns may be? How long do you have to wait for an appointment? How long do you then wait in his/her office? Will the physician talk to you on the phone? Do the fees seem reasonable?

Characteristics of a Good Physician

Is intelligent and knowledgeable Is sympathetic and interested in the patient Advocates preventive measures Can maintain a smooth appointment schedule Takes a detailed history and gives the patient enough time to discuss problems After examination, gives the a clear explanation of the diagnosis and treatment May indicate that knowledge is lacking Knows limitations and refers Is conservative in recommending surgery Will not abandon the patient once treatments begins Is available for appropriate consultations or emergencies Charges reasonable fees and is willing to discuss them Is on staff at an accredited hospital Stays up-to-date

According to the 2013 Institute Of Medicine report

"Shorter Lives, Poorer Health" Americans have lower life expectancy and higher rates of infant mortality, low birth weight, injuries, adolescent pregnancy and stds , HIV/AIDS, drug related deaths, obesity, diabetes , heart disease, chronic lung disease, and disability than people in other industrialized countries

From Inside the Mind of the Consumer; the fusion of neuroscience and marketing is, inevitably, being called

"neuromarketing".

Power words

"strengthens immune system" - "fights ........" - "provides relief" - "amazing breakthrough" - "free...money back guarantee - "FDA-approved" - "Used by millions" - "Scientifically tested"

FDA

(Food and Drug Administration) concerned about safety, effectiveness and marketing of foods, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices (have a resource problem, not enough)

FTC

(federal trade committee) primary jurisdiction over most types of advertising

imagery to appeal to emotion

- "Beautiful people, places, things" - "Marlboro man" - "Used extensively in Europe" - "Before and after" pictures - "Look younger instantly"

Misleading comparisons

- "contains twice as much" - "fast acting" - "Isn't it time you tried" - "up to 8 hour relief"

weasel words

- Create an illusion of a promise but permit the advertiser to "weasel" out of the deal later

techniques used in advertising

- Power words - misleading comparisons -imagery to appeal to emotion - Puffery (exaggeration) -weasel words -half-truths

Puffery (exaggeration)

- Praise that includes opinions, superlatives, exaggerations, or generalities, but no specific facts. - Puffery lies to you, but the law says that it does not

why people are vulnerable to scams

- anything is better than nothing - terminally ill(especially when on the younger side) - elderly -various cultural minorities -"intelligent people can be lead to believe that a treatment has helped someone when it has not"

#5 of Six Marketing Fallacies

-Consumers Think in Words • Brain scans indicate that activity in the brain cells always precedes our thought process dictating words.

#1 of the Six Marketing Fallacies

-Consumers Think in a WellReasoned or Rational, Linear Way • Some of the very research that originally supported such thinking now pegs this kind of decision making as the exception rather than the rule. • As it turns out, the selection process is relatively automatic, stems from habits and other unconscious forces, and is greatly influenced by the consumer's social and physical context. • Research suggests that people's emotions are closely interwoven with the reasoning process.*

#2 of the Six Marketing Fallacies

-Consumers can Readily Explain Their Thinking and Behavior ***Remember.....95% of our thinking occurs in the unconscious mind, that wonderful, and maybe messy, stew of memories, emotions, thoughts and other cognitive processes that we cannot readily articulate!

#6 of Six Marketing fallacies

-Consumers can be "Injected" with Company Messages and will interpret these messages as marketers intend. • Simply asking people what story they heard or believe is behind a marketing message does not reveal what story they have actually created for themselves.

#4 of Six Marketing Fallacies

-Consumers' Memories Accurately Represent Their Experiences • Our memories are far more creative, even malleable, than we might expect. "Cues involved in retrieving a memory alter what is recalled

#3 of the Six Marketing Fallacies

-Consumers' Minds, Brains, Bodies and Surrounding Culture and Society Can be Adequately Studied Independently of One Another • Holistic approach???? ....of all the fallacies this one is most difficult to overcome. • Marketers assume that what is going on in each dimension of wellness has little to do with what's going on in the others.

most common types of fraud by providers

-billing for services that were never rendered- either by using genuine patient info, sometimes obtained through identity theft, to fabricate entire claims or by padding claims with charges for procedures or services that did not take place -"upcoding": falsely billing for a higher priced treatment than was actually provided -performing medically unnecessary services solely for the purpose of generating insurance payments -misrepresenting non-covered treatments as medically necessary covered treatments for the purpose of obtaining insurance payments (commonly seen in cosmetic surgery schemes in which non-covered cosmetic procedures such as "nose jobs" are billed to patient's insurance as "deviated septum repairs" -falsifying a patient's diagnosis to justify tests -unbundling - billing each step of a procedure as if it was a separate procedure -billing a patient more than the co-pay amount for services that were prepaid or paid in full by the benefit plan under the terms of a managed care contract -accepting kickbacks for patient referrals -waiving patients co-pay or deductibles and billing insurance carrier or benefit plan

FDA and FTC advise consumers to be suspicious of

-claims that the product is "natural" or "non-toxic" suggesting it does not have side effects -testimonials from people claiming amazing results quickly. They are often undocumented and are not a substitute for scientific proof -claims that a product is a "scientific breakthrough" -claims that the product is an effective cure for a wide range of ailments.... and quick acting! -claims that use impressive-sounding med terms like these for a weight loss product: "hunger stimulation point" and "thermogenesis" -claims that product is only available from one source and payment required in advance -claims of a money-back guarantee -web sites that fail to list the companies name, physical address, phone number or other contact info

Best time to look for a physician:

before becoming ill

hazards of scams

-financial harm (more than just money- losing your car or house) -deterioration of health -psychological harm

some of the positives of direct to consumer advertising

-help reduce health disparities by increasing access to information -de-stigmatize certain sensitive conditions

vulnerabilities of victims of quackery

-lack of suspicion -desperation -alienation -belief in magic -overconfidence

Intelligent consumer behavior

-maintain a healthy lifestyle -seek reliable sources -select practitioners with great care -undergo screening tests and when illness strikes, use self-care and professional care as needed -communicate effectively with care givers -understand logic of science and are wary of of treatments that lack scientific support -familiar with economic aspects of health care

Problems with "reliable" service

-many physicians prescribe too many drugs and perform unnecessary surgeries (medications cause 1 death/day and injure approx 1.3 million annually- FDA as reported by the Wall Street Journal) -many dentist fail to get optimal results because work too quickly with too many patients -not uncommon for over 50% of nutritionists listed to be bogus or suspicious

common misconceptions of quackery

-quacks are frauds and crooks -most quackery is dangerous -the media is reliable -personal experience is the best way to tell whether a treatment works (may be spontaneous remission)

Problems with Costs

-rising costs and lack of adequate insurance coverage have given rise to what many call a health-care crisis -millions have no insurance at all -many more have insurance that is severely lacking in coverage -increases in quackery products and fraud of all types -even the funeral industry has been found to have a disgraceful record of price-gouging

choices of research methods

-setting goals and objectives -developing strategies -taking action -measuring results (peer review to prevent error or misuse of statistics)

can find a physician through

-the AMA (American Medical Association) -a local accredited hospital -county medical society -local health-care professional such as pharmacist -one's physician from previous community -friends, neighbors, co-workers

Only two countries permit DTC (direct to consumer) drug ads

-the U.S. and New Zealand. Every other nation has concluded that its unwise and irresponsible to pitch potentially dangerous meds to people lacking the medical training to make smart decisions. Better to have patients discuss such things directly with their physicians.

13 year trends for complementary approaches

1. Yoga (has skyrocketed) 2. massage therapy (has gone up and down) 3. Progressive relaxation (declined) 4. guided imagery (steady) 5. acupuncture (steady)

FDA reports the Common types of health fraud

1. cancer fraud 2. hiv/aids fraud 3. arthritis fraud 4. fraudulent diagnostic tests 5. bogus dietary supplements 6. weight loss fraud 7. sexual enhancement product fraud 8. diabetes fraud 9. influenza fraud

Trends in Natural Products 10-year use trends for individual non-vitamin, non-mineral natural products (shown in 8 year also)

1. fish oil (has skyrocketed) 2. probiotics (has increased) 3. glucosamine (somewhat decreasing) 4. melatonin (rising slowly) 5. EGCG-green tea (steady)

Reasons CAM was not discussed with health care provider (over 50 years of age)- 2010

1. health care provider never asked (42%) 2. didn't know you should (30%) 3. not enough time during visit (17%) 4. don't think HCP knows about topic (16) 5. HCP would have told you not to do it (12) 6. weren't comfortable telling HCP (11) 7. no reason to do so (4%) 8. don't believe in CAM (3%)

Three categories of health care personnel

1. independent practitioners whose scope is theoretically unlimited (medical and osteopathic) 2. independent practitioners whose scope is limited (dentist, podiatrists, optometrists, psychologists) 3. ancillary providers, most practice under some degree of medical supervision (nurses, physicians assistants, )

Scientific method has three noteworthy characteristics

1. it is self-correcting 2. it requires objectivity 3. experiments must be reproducible

3 Critical Factors Patients Look at When Choosing a Doctor

1. length of time to get an appointment 2. personality or appearance of physician 3. years of experience

Advertising Know-How

1. look at how you're advertising. let customers know what you do that's different, extra 2. examine your market 3. keep it simple and short (KISS it) 4. Give your customers an incentive 5. stand on your reputation rather than tearing down the competition 6. maintain a consistent image

4 types of negative option marketing

1. prenotification negative option plans 2. continuity plans 3. automatic renewals 4. free-to-pay or nominal fee to pay conversion offers

how to avoid or prevent health care fraud

1. protect your health insurance id card 2. report fraud 3. be informed about health care services you receive, keep good records of your medical care, and closely review all medical bills you receive 4. beware of "free" offers

four functions of mass media

1. to entertain 2. to inform 3. to carry advertisements 4. to make money for stockholders (none say to educate)

each consumer should

1. use science for more answers 2. talk to your physician as part of our national health 1. model the german commission E

what people thought was most important in selecting a physician 100% 89% 88% 84% 75% 73% 66% 66%

100 - willingness to talk about illness 89- access to hospital you want 88- length of time to get an appointment 84 - personality or appearance of physician 75 - fees 73- years of experience 66 - office location 66- weekend and evening office hours

According to 2012 NHIS highlights, ____% of US Kids 4-17 use complementary health approaches

11.6%

period of time of becoming FDA Approved

12 years generally. Preclinical testing - 3.5 years assess safety Phase 1 - 1 year determine safety and dosage phase 2 - 2 years evaluate effectiveness, look for side effects phase 3 - 3 years, verify effectiveness, monitor adverse reactions from long term use FDA - 2.5 years review process/ approval Phase 4- additional post marketing testing required by FDA

______$$$ spent yearly on products and services that are falsely claimed to prevent or alleviate health problems

15 (billion)

over ____% use yoga for treating a health condition

15%

WHO USES CAM MOST? 2012 Education: No HS Diploma=_____%* HS or GED= ______%* Some College=______% College Degree or Higher= ______%

16; 24; 37; 43

likelihood of being a victim of fraud by age 1. 25-34: ____% 2. 35-44: _____% 3. 18-24: ____% 4. 45-54: _____%

17.1; 15.4; 14.9; 14.6

During Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, the Federal Government won or negotiated over $_____ in health care fraud judgements and settlements ...... As a result of these efforts, as well as those of preceding years, in FY 2016 over $______ was returned to the Federal Government or paid to private persons

2.5 billion; 3.3 billion -

Likelihood of being a victim of fraud by race and ethnicity: 1. african american: _____% 2. hispanic: _____% 3. american indian/alaska native:_____%

20; 18; 16.8

WHO USES CAM MOST? 2012 Poverty Status: Poor=______%* Near-Poor=_____% Not-poor=______%*

21; 26; 38

less than ___% of users of natural product supplements said they had reduced stress, better sleep, or felt better emotionally as a result

25%

The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) estimates that __% of all health care spending is lost to health care fraud

3 % or 68 billion dollars

Many Americans—more than ____% percent of adults and about ____% percent of children—use health care approaches developed outside of mainstream Western, or conventional, medicine

30; 12

Who Uses CAM the Most: Age Groups: 18-44=______% 45-64=______%* 65 & over =_____%*

32; 37; 29

respondents who discussed CAM with health care provider (over 50 years of age)

33% yes 67% no

According to 2012 NHIS highlights, ____% of US adults use complementary health approaches

33.2%

Who Uses CAM the Most: CAM use among adults is greater among women (_____% women VS _____% men)

37; 29

WHO USES CAM MOST? 2012 Health Insurance: Private=______%* Public=_____% Uninsured=______%*

38; 25; 23

___% believe their patients understand the possible risk

40%

approximately ___% of users of spinal manipulation said they had reduced stress, better sleep, and easier time coping with health problems

40%

over ___% use natural products for treating health conditions

40%

Drug companies spend more than ________ a year pitching prescription medications directly to consumers.

5 billion

over ___% use spinal manipulation for wellness

50%

success rate of clinical trials

5000 compounds evaluated, only 5 enter trials, only 1 approved

Over _____% says Spinal Manipulation makes them feel better

65

Over _____% says natural Products makes them feel better

65

over ___% use spinal manipulation for treating a health condition

65%

____% of physicians surveyed believed that DTC ads cause patients to think that the drug works better than it does

75

reasons for CAM use (over 50 years of age) 1. _______% prevent illness/general wellness 2. help reduce pain= _____% 3. treat specific health condition= _______% 4. supplement conventional medicine= _______%

77; 73; 59; 53

___% of physicians believe their patients understand the possible benefits of the drug very well or somewhat

78%

Over _____% says Yoga makes them feel better

80

over ___% use natural products for wellness

85%

over ___% use yoga for wellness

90%

Harvard Business School professor Gerald Zatman says that ___% of our purchase decision making takes place in subconscious mind

95%

The average American TV viewer watches as many as _______ drug ads a day, totaling ______ hours per year, which far exceeds the amount of time the average individual spends with a primary care physician.

9; 16

The 95-5 split

At least 95% of all cognition occurs below awareness in the shadows of the mind while, at most, only 5% occurs in high-order consciousness "conscious thinking is conspicuously laborious and slow." "difficult to entertain consciously two distinct trains of thought at the same times as it is to engage in two distinct conversations"

what is CAM

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Examples of the Unconscious mind in action

Consumers using both a store brand and a national brand of an over-the-counter medication insist that they know the two brands are identical except for price. However, when their symptoms are severe, the great majority of these same consumers use the higher-priced name brand. Moreover, if the medicine is for a child or spouse, the purchaser will almost always select the national brand. the buyer believes that the national brand works better and is therefore better for her loved ones.

podiatrist

Diagnose and treat conditions of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg; prescribe medications. May specialize in surgery, sports medicine, wound care, pediatrics, or diabetic care. Training/credentials: four years of podiatric medical school plus three years of hospital residency training. With advanced training and experience, can obtain board certification from the American Board of Podiatric Medicine or the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. State license.

M.D.

Diagnose and treat illness and injury, including surgery, examinations, testing, and prescribing medication. Training/credentials: Four years of medical school plus up to six years of residency training. Optional clinical fellowships and specialty certification. National licensing exams. State license.

Clinical psychologist (Ph.D., Psy.D.), licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor (LPC)

Diagnose and treat mental illness and emotional and behavioral problems in individuals, couples, groups, and families. Training/credentials: Ph.D. and Psy.D.: doctoral degree. Licensed clinical social worker and LPC: master's or doctoral degree plus two or more years of supervised post-graduate experience. State licenses. Counselors can also be certified by National Board of Certified Counselors.

pharmacist

Dispense medication and immunizations, check for potential drug interactions, provide counseling on how to take medication and limit side effects. Training/credentials: Doctor of pharmacy degree from an accredited school, plus internship. Two licensing exams, one covering pharmacy skills and knowledge and the other covering pharmacy law.

physician assistant

Examine patients, diagnose and treat illness, order and interpret lab tests, perform procedures, assist in surgery, provide patient education and counseling, make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes, prescribe medications. Training/credentials/licensure: bachelors degree, followed by completion of an accredited P>A. program modeled on the medical school curriculum

Fraud

FDA describes health fraud as articles of unproven effectiveness that are promoted to improve health, well being or appearance (Food fraud- deliberately placing food on the market for financial gain with the intent of deceiving the consumer- has risen by 60%)

Dietitian (RD)

Food and nutrition counseling for general health, nutritional deficiencies, or disease management. Training/credentials Bachelor's degree with courses approved by professional organization, plus completion of an internship. National examination.

HEAT task force

Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team

HFPP

Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership

NCCAM

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

NCCIH

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

NREPP

National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices, a service of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

10 Most Common Complementary Health Approaches among adults- 2010

Natural Products: 17.7% Deep Breathing: 10.9% Yoga, Tai Chi: 10.1% Chiropractic/ Osteopathic manipulation: 8.4% Mediation: 8.0% Massage: 6.9% Special Diets: 3.0% Homeopathy: 2.2% Progressive relaxation: 2.1% Guided Imagery: 1.7%

FTC Consumer Alert

Negative Option Purchases When No Means Yes • Instead of the merchant having to "sell" you a product or service, it starts with the assumption that you've already bought it - Find terms and conditions of the offer - Pay attention to boxes - Look for information how you can cancel - Read your credit and debit card statements

more than _____ of American adults use some form of complementary health approach

One-third

DO

Practice as medical doctors do in any specialty area. Some osteopaths also perform musculoskeletal manipulation. Training/credentials: Four years of osteopathic medical school, followed by medical or osteopathic residency training. Optional specialty certification. National licensing exam. State license.

Licensed practical nurse (LPN), licensed vocational nurse (LVN)

Provide basic nursing care under the direction of registered nurses and doctors. Training/credentials: Completion of a state-approved educational program (usually one year) and passage of a licensing exam.

RN

Provide patient care and education, care coordination, physical exams, and health histories. Training/credentials: Diploma or associate or bachelor's degree from an approved nursing program. National licensing exam.

T/F No special training is legally required to offer counseling to the public

True

Most Troubling advertisement fraud

Weight Loss Programs

People who practice ______ reported the greatest health benefits.

Yoga

to be termed "scientific"

a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning

"Alternative" is when

a non-mainstream practice is used in place of conventional medicine

Scientific Method

a procedure for exposing hypotheses to critical examination and testing

Deep-pocketed pharmaceutical companies argued that patients have ____________________

a right to know all their options and that pitching prescription drugs on TV thus would benefit the public

quackery

the promotion of a false or unproven method of treatment but fully believing that it works -fraud is different in that it involves deceit*** Broader definition: anything involving over promotion in the field of health care -includes questionable ideas, products and or services -unproven methods are not always quackery: might be "experimental"

Caveat Emptor doctrine

was based on the assumption that buyers and sellers had equal bargaining positions. This was reasonable because goods could be examined thoroughly for defects and people bargained almost entirely with neighbors

The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005

was enacted in response to growing concern about patient safety

people who take dietary supplements or who practice yoga are more likely to do so for _____ rather than _______

wellness reasons; for treating a health condition

indirect risk

when the product itself does not cause harm but its use may keep someone away from proven, sometimes essential, medical treatment (type we worry about)

direct risk

when the use of a fraudulent product results in injuries or adverse reactions

We Easily See 3 Types of Advertising

• Even though main purpose is to sell, we do have some Informative Advertising - Purpose of a drug (Side effects) • Misleading/deceptive advertising - Unproven claims -- Listerine (colds) - Testimonials - Palming off • Puffery advertising - Uses exaggeration, hyperbole, or imagery to market products

Keep these points in mind regarding Advertising

• Main purpose of advertising is to sell rather than inform • Ads for alcohol and tobacco try to distract from the real risks • Health professionals who advertise may not represent their services accurately • Misleading advertising is so widespread that government agencies cannot stop most law violators they detect

Consumer Tips

• Remember the primary purpose of the ad is to sell the product. • Do not assume the ad gives you the full story. • Seek additional information • Ignore advertising hype • Know ingredients • Know the "targets"

Responsible Ads

• The most appropriate approach in advertising is one that accurately informs the public of facilities and useful services offered. • May be as simple as a coupon that discounts a service to legitimate health services..............but not one that is a gimmick for one provider.

the Big 3:

• United States Postal Service - The use of the mail system to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent representations, pretenses, or promises is prohibited by law. • Food and Drug Administration - Food, drugs, cosmetics, medical services, truthful labeling • Federal Trade Commission: -works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them.

But What About Direct to Consumer Advertising? FDA Reports That Proponents say that the ads

• provide useful information to consumers that may result in better health • can advance public health by encouraging more people to talk with health care professionals about problems, particularly undertreated conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol • can help remove the stigma associated with diseases that in the past were rarely openly discussed (including erectile dysfunction and depression) • can remind patients to get their prescriptions refilled and help them adhere to their medication regimens • may contain false or misleading information • does not provide enough information about the risks and negative effects of the advertised drugs • may not advance—and may even threaten —the public health • encourages overuse of prescription drugs • encourages use of the most costly treatments, instead of less expensive treatments that would be just as satisfactory