Who is a Health Consumer?

Health Consumers are people who use health

services, as well as their families and careers.
This includes people who have used a health service in
the past or who could potentially use the service in the
future.

Consumer health has three components:

• health information
• health products,
• health services.
 Health information plays a big role in the life of
individuals. “It is information that people require to
make wise choices and decisions about their
health or the health of [other people]” (Galvez
Tan, et al., 2009).

Health information is
any concept, step, or
advice that various
sources give to aid the
health status of an
individual.
The type of information
varies depending on
“diseases, sexual health,
weight loss/gain, drugs
and alcohol,
depression/mental illness,
violence, smoking, eating
disorders, acne/skincare,
local clinics, and
sexual assault” (Payne, et
al., 2005).
 The information is critical as it may alter the health
conditions of a person. Another important characteristic
of health information is that it is continuously and rapidly
changing. Thus, it “should be timely, relevant, culturally
appropriate, accessible, and delivered in a relevant
format” (Galvez Tan, et al., 2009). There is a great need
to update oneself regarding current research and
evidence available in the field.
Aside from health information, people also consume
health products.
Health products
Arefood, drugs, cosmetics, devices, biologicals, vaccin
es, in-vitro diagnostic
reagents, and household/urban hazardous substances
and/or a combination of and/or a derivative thereof
(FDA Act, 2009).
These products may be purchased from various places
like:

Hospitals Supermarkets

Pharmacies

People acquire health information and products from

various sources like:

technology

people media

It is important to identify the reliability of these sources.

Reliable sources
of health information and products are licensed profess
ionals who took up specialized and intensive studies in
the field.

They are the ones who have a qualified educational

background and can give scientific explanations to
validate the information.

We can also find reliable health information from health

books, and accredited online sources.

On the other hand, unreliable sources of information

and products are those from people who are not
experts in this field.

Aside from health information and products, people

also avail of various health services from
different providers.
Health services
are often connected to healthcare. These programs
aim to appraise the health conditions of individuals
through screening and examinations, cure and treat
disorders, prevent and control the spread of diseases,
provide safety, emergency care, and first aid, and
ensure a follow-up program for individuals who have
undergone treatments.

Health services are usually offered by healthcare

providers. “A healthcare provider is a trained
professional who provides people with healthcare”
(Meeks, et al., 2011). There are different types of
healthcare providers, such as:

Health Professionals
Individuals who are licensed to practice medicine and
other allied health programs.
An example of a health professional is a physician.
There are different types of physicians based on
their area of specialization.

CARDIOLOGISTS
Cardiologists are doctors
who specialize in
diagnosing and treating
diseases or conditions of
the heart and blood
vessels—the
cardiovascular system.

DERMATOLOGISTS
A dermatologist is a doctor
that specializes in treating
skin, hair, nail, and mucous
membrane disorders and
diseases.
GASTROENTEROLOGIST

Gastroenterologists are
doctors who are
trained to diagnose
and treat problems in
your gastrointestinal
(GI) tract and liver.

GERIATRICIAN

A geriatrician is a doctor
who specializes in care of
the elderly and the
diseases that affect them.
The approach tends to be
holistic and involves a
multidisciplinary team.
The geriatrician concentrates
on managing the medical
conditions affecting the patient
GYNECOLOGISTS

Gynecologist is a
doctor who specializes
in women's
reproductive health.
obstetricians care for
women during their
pregnancy and just
after the baby is born.

NEUROLOGIST

The neurologist treats

disorders that affect the
brain, spinal cord, and
nerves, such as:
Cerebrovascular disease,
such as stroke.
Demyelinating diseases of
the central nervous system,
such as multiple sclerosis.
ORTHOPEDISTS

Orthopedist: An
orthopedic surgeon, a
physician who corrects
congenital or
functional
abnormalities of the
bones with surgery,
casting, and
bracing. Orthopedists a
lso treat injuries to the
bones. Sometimes
spelled orthopaedist.

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

An ophthalmologist
diagnoses and treats all
eye diseases, performs
eye surgery and prescribes
and fits eyeglasses and
contact lenses to correct
vision problems.
PEDIATRICIAN

A pediatrician is medical
doctor who manages the
physical, behavioral, and
mental care for children
from birth until age 18.
A pediatrician is trained
to diagnose and treat a
broad range of childhood
illnesses, from minor health
problems to serious
diseases

PULMONOLOGISTS

A pulmonologist is a
doctor who diagnoses
and treats diseases of
the respiratory system –
the lungs and other
organs that help you
breathe.
 UROLOGIST

Urologists diagnose and treat diseases

of the urinary tract in both men and
women. They also diagnose and treat
anything involving the reproductive
tract in men. In some cases, they may
perform surgery.
REFERENCES
https://gi.org/patients/gi-health-and-disease/what-is-a-gastroenterologist/
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/what-is-a-dermatologist-what-is-
dermatology/
https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-
center/topics/what-is-a-cardiologist/
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/highland/departments-
centers/neurology/what-is-a-neurologist.aspx
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4669#:~:text
=Orthopedist%3A%20An%20orthopedic%20surgeon%2C%20a,Sometimes%
20spelled%20orthopaedist.
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/what-is-
ophthalmologist#:~:text=An%20ophthalmologist%20diagnoses%20and%20t
reats,eye%20diseases%20and%20vision%20disorders.
https://www.webmd.com/baby/pediatricians-role-
twins#:~:text=A%20pediatrician%20is%20medical%20doctor,health%20prob
lems%20to%20serious%20diseases.
https://www.webmd.com/lung/what-do-pulmonologists-do
DEPED learning module Unit 1