Accessing Valid Health
Information, Products,
and Services
Michigan Merit Curriculum
• Standard 2: Access Information
– 5.4 Demonstrate the ability to access valid
information and resources in one’s community
and on the Internet related to personal health
issues and concerns.
– 5.5 Demonstrate the ability to access
accurate information about personal health
products.
Four Steps on How to Access Health
Information, Products, and Services
1. Identify health information, products,
•
•
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and services that you need
Health Care Providers- Licensed, trained
professionals. Examples: Dentists, doctors,
nurses (health maintain or restore health)
Health Product- Something that is made to
maintain or restore health. Examples:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, crutches,
wheelchairs, bandages.
Health Care Facility- A place such as a
hospital; where health care is provided.
Examples: Clinics, emergency facilities, doctor,
and dentist offices.
Four Steps on How to Access Health
Information, Products, and Services
Continued….
2. Find health information, products, and
•
services
Find information in a Dr.’s office, dentist office, a
pharmacy, grocery store, internet, American Heart
Association, American Cancer Society, & Medical
Journals.
Four Steps on How to Access Health Information,
Products, and Services Continued….
3. Evaluate health information, products, and services
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
(Evaluate and ask yourself these questions)
What is the source of the information? (health care
providers, government agencies, ect.)
What are the qualifications of the person? (are they a
recognized professional group)
Is the information up-to-date?
Have reputable health care professionals evaluated
information?
What is the purpose of the information? (is it to inform or
to make money)
How can you obtain additional information?
Does the information make realistic claims?
Four Steps on How to Access Health
Information, Products, and Services
Continued…
4. Take action when health information is
misleading
• There are laws that protect the public from false
advertising.
Vocabulary
 Emergency- A serious situation that occurs without warning
and calls for quick action
 Types of Health Resources:
- Governmental Health Resources- Oversees the health of
the nation. Examples: CDC, National Institute of Health
- Health Professionals Groups- Make sure you are treated
by someone with appropriate training. Example: AMA
- Health Advocate Group- Educates the public health
conditions & raise funds for research. Example: Heart,
Cancer, Diabetes, & Lung Associations. They usually have a
national headquarters & a local group.
Vocabulary
 Family & Personal Health Records- Help to keep important
health information.
 Pedigree- Used to track genetic diseases through families.
- Know about family health. Examples: Sickle Cell Anemia,
Cancer, Heart Disease
- Track family health- Keep a family health history
- Risk factors- Is there anything that increases a person’s chance
of developing a disease?
- Health history questionnaires can reveal risk factors; given
to patients at a Doctor’s office
- Monitoring Health can help a family doctor monitor your
health & look for early warning signs.
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How can knowing your Health History help
you?
What are some diseases that have a genetic
risk factor?
Assignment:
Locate 3 Health Care Facilities: Include the
name of facility, address, phone number,
hours of operation, & services offered
Questions
If you had a skin problem who would you see?
To be a wise consumer, you should
consider which of the following factors
when buying a health care product?
A. Cost per unit
B. peer recommendation
C. Appearance of the packaging
D. Whether the product is endorsed by a
famous person.

Which of the following would be most important
to look for on the label when buying vitamins?
◦ A. The brand name
◦ B. The number of vitamin tablets in the
container
◦ C. The amount of each vitamin contained in a
tablet.
◦ D. The color of the vitamin tablets.

Pat is trying to decide which moisturizer is the
best buy. Which of the following would be
important criteria for Pat to consider in
determining the best buy?
◦ A. Cost plus friend’s recommendation
◦ B. Cost plus brand name
◦ C. Cost plus effectiveness
◦ D. Cost plus advertising claims

Peter uses the internet to collect information
before he buys health care products. Which of
the following is the most important thing for
Pete to do?
◦ A. Be sure the source of the information is
reliable
◦ B. Read all the information completely and
carefully
◦ C. Buy only products that claim to be 100%
effective
◦ D. Buy products that use recycled paper and
plastic

Which of the following is the LEAST important
thing to do when buying over-the-counter
medication?
◦ A. Read any warnings
◦ B. Read the directions
◦ C. Buy the most advertised brand
◦ D. Speak to the pharmacist if you have a
question

Which of these is the MOST important rule to
keep in mind when buying health-related
products?
◦ A. Consumers should inform themselves
about the products they purchase
◦ B. Advertising is regulated, so there are few
deceptive products are quickly removed from
stores
◦ C. Product safety is regulated unsafe products
are quickly removed from stores
◦ D. Products that can be purchased without a
prescription cannot be misused by consumers