Here are some terms that I feel are useful to know for considering consumer health issues:
1) professional discourse: how "things" - issues, decisions, solutions, etc are discussed within a profession. For example, let's think about professional discourse about whether people should have access to information about what's in our food products. If people in my field decide that we believe consumers are too ready to be afraid of what they don't understand, we might decide that labeling foods with "Contains GM ingredients" might do more harm than good by causing folks to stop buying canned vegetables because they don't want the GM ingredients - but aren't ready to take the step of a)paying more to buy organic canned vegetables or b)buying/cooking fresh vegetables. So they may end up eating NO vegetables. Again, this is what people in my field might SAY (discourse), leading them to support the government in deciding NOT to require labeling. Professional discourse has been shown to strongly affect what people in a profession DO and DON'T do to solve problems.
2) information gap: the idea that lower SES people have less access to adequate information, EVEN THOUGH there's tons of information out there. If I am barely supporting my family, working very long hours to do it, dropping to my couch every night, and would have trouble fitting in reading my local paper even a couple of times a week, I definitely do not get a lot of the information that many folks in society get much more easily.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
209 Weekly Post #2s - looking great!
Hi everyone -
Most of you have posted in response to the after-midterm post assignment. You're asking great questions, and putting some real thought into the issues you're looking at - including whether certain things really ARE issues or not.
Again, take a look at each others' sites. Allison found a public debt counter. On the site for that, there were a few others. I'm wondering what else is out there.
Dr. Pearson
Most of you have posted in response to the after-midterm post assignment. You're asking great questions, and putting some real thought into the issues you're looking at - including whether certain things really ARE issues or not.
Again, take a look at each others' sites. Allison found a public debt counter. On the site for that, there were a few others. I'm wondering what else is out there.
Dr. Pearson
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Halloween posting!
Hi everyone -
It has taken me a while, I know, but I am finally getting to read your intros/hooks. Wow! Many of you have a LOT to say on your topic.
Here's a sampling:
Laura is stunned by advice that exercise may not be all it's cracked up to be, and is asking other people what they think! She also cautions us to wonder about a company's INTENT before buying an alternative product. Great thoughts, Laura.
Trish is taking an interesting spin on finding who's out there working for us as consumers - she's looking at "best practices," or what a given industry or service SAYS it should be doing to do the best job it can. Nice, Trish.
Kristin Musch is interested in helping people get BASIC information. She reminds us that not everyone is looking for every little fact and detail but should be able to rely, bottom line, on the sources they use to think about health. She also has a very interesting cat example . . . Thanks, Kristin!
Audrey is looking at greenwashing. Thinks it's really interesting, and a waste of good brain power TRYING to be green, when some folks get a pat on the back for something they're not really doing very well - and just in it for the money. Excellent, Audrey.
Morgan is talking about budgeting and getting our financial lives in order. She has a couple of interesting gadgets - one with daily tips - and points us to a debate about CEO pay. Fun stuff, Morgan!
Amber is considering the ways media do and DON'T cover stories. She has some thoughts about marriage equality issues and other civil issues that may definitely affect the mental and social health of a large population. Enjoyed it, Amber.
Natalie is getting us to think about the big, scary world of online activity, and just what IS our own responsibility in it. One thing's for sure: don't trust those Australian models! Thanks a lot, Natalie.
Ben has a start on thinking about food issues. He warns us that if we don't watch out, food may very well get to be more than this nation can handle. Looking forward to more, Ben!
Holly has put up a glossary and some great references for folks just wanting a little information so they aren't so frustrated with decisions they have to make. Nice sub-title, too. Thanks, Holly.
Emily will really get you going about HIV/AIDS prevention. She discusses how different state laws and regulations affect what young people are taught about how to protect themselves. Very intriguing, Emily!
Danielle is thinking about the details of the great health care debate. Way beyond "death panels" is the fact that so many people lose their insurance with job loss, and what the possible solutions are to this issue and others, such as children's health care. Nice, Danielle.
Jenna gives us a little history about health care in America, and then a little kick in the pants - she believes everyone has a part to play in solving this issue. Awesome, Jenna.
Will is talking about food, from a big picture economic standpoint. He gets us thinking about what our food scene is like here, with so many people needing to cut back, sometimes seriously. Then he brings in a global perspective that might make us feel a little fortunate compared to what some folks are facing. Excellent, Will.
Devin is looking at some pretty fishy alternative products, including "Perfect Water." Using his background as a somewhat more informed consumer than most of us probably are about water issues, he's actually taking some action. Let us know if you hear back from those emails, Devin!
Angie is exploring greenwashing and fills us in on some LITTLE hints we might not know - like companies who really aren't very eco-friendly at all putting a nice picture of a tree up on their website or ad. Sneaky. Nice job, Angie.
Lindsay's dishing about food. As she reminds us, we all eat! But we don't all take responsibility (OR recognize our right!) to find out what we can about food. She has a cool gadget up that showed me some surprises as far as what might be in season right now in New York, of all places. Great, Lindsay.
Jadie is giving us a helpful foot in the door to the great health care debate. She bullet points some issues that she wasn't clear on before, and shares a reference that helped her understand it all and take a position on it. Good stuff, Jadie.
Allison is taking on the infomercial world. She reasonably suggests that in this rough economy, NOBODY needs to buy products they can't be sure of, especially if they don't end up using them (or the product gets recalled). Yikes. Enjoying your thoughts, Allison.
_______THIS STUFF IS AWESOME, YOU ALL!! YOU ARE CREATING INFORMATION, AND IT'S QUITE THOUGHT-PROVOKING. GREAT WORK! CONTINUE, AND HAVE FUN WITH IT_______
IF I didn't mention yours, it's because I'm not able to see it. I found a couple of working links but without much up yet, and I think I'm missing one link, possibly, still.
Happy candy fest the next few days - if you do that sort of thing, which of course I never do . . . ;-)
Dr. P
It has taken me a while, I know, but I am finally getting to read your intros/hooks. Wow! Many of you have a LOT to say on your topic.
Here's a sampling:
Laura is stunned by advice that exercise may not be all it's cracked up to be, and is asking other people what they think! She also cautions us to wonder about a company's INTENT before buying an alternative product. Great thoughts, Laura.
Trish is taking an interesting spin on finding who's out there working for us as consumers - she's looking at "best practices," or what a given industry or service SAYS it should be doing to do the best job it can. Nice, Trish.
Kristin Musch is interested in helping people get BASIC information. She reminds us that not everyone is looking for every little fact and detail but should be able to rely, bottom line, on the sources they use to think about health. She also has a very interesting cat example . . . Thanks, Kristin!
Audrey is looking at greenwashing. Thinks it's really interesting, and a waste of good brain power TRYING to be green, when some folks get a pat on the back for something they're not really doing very well - and just in it for the money. Excellent, Audrey.
Morgan is talking about budgeting and getting our financial lives in order. She has a couple of interesting gadgets - one with daily tips - and points us to a debate about CEO pay. Fun stuff, Morgan!
Amber is considering the ways media do and DON'T cover stories. She has some thoughts about marriage equality issues and other civil issues that may definitely affect the mental and social health of a large population. Enjoyed it, Amber.
Natalie is getting us to think about the big, scary world of online activity, and just what IS our own responsibility in it. One thing's for sure: don't trust those Australian models! Thanks a lot, Natalie.
Ben has a start on thinking about food issues. He warns us that if we don't watch out, food may very well get to be more than this nation can handle. Looking forward to more, Ben!
Holly has put up a glossary and some great references for folks just wanting a little information so they aren't so frustrated with decisions they have to make. Nice sub-title, too. Thanks, Holly.
Emily will really get you going about HIV/AIDS prevention. She discusses how different state laws and regulations affect what young people are taught about how to protect themselves. Very intriguing, Emily!
Danielle is thinking about the details of the great health care debate. Way beyond "death panels" is the fact that so many people lose their insurance with job loss, and what the possible solutions are to this issue and others, such as children's health care. Nice, Danielle.
Jenna gives us a little history about health care in America, and then a little kick in the pants - she believes everyone has a part to play in solving this issue. Awesome, Jenna.
Will is talking about food, from a big picture economic standpoint. He gets us thinking about what our food scene is like here, with so many people needing to cut back, sometimes seriously. Then he brings in a global perspective that might make us feel a little fortunate compared to what some folks are facing. Excellent, Will.
Devin is looking at some pretty fishy alternative products, including "Perfect Water." Using his background as a somewhat more informed consumer than most of us probably are about water issues, he's actually taking some action. Let us know if you hear back from those emails, Devin!
Angie is exploring greenwashing and fills us in on some LITTLE hints we might not know - like companies who really aren't very eco-friendly at all putting a nice picture of a tree up on their website or ad. Sneaky. Nice job, Angie.
Lindsay's dishing about food. As she reminds us, we all eat! But we don't all take responsibility (OR recognize our right!) to find out what we can about food. She has a cool gadget up that showed me some surprises as far as what might be in season right now in New York, of all places. Great, Lindsay.
Jadie is giving us a helpful foot in the door to the great health care debate. She bullet points some issues that she wasn't clear on before, and shares a reference that helped her understand it all and take a position on it. Good stuff, Jadie.
Allison is taking on the infomercial world. She reasonably suggests that in this rough economy, NOBODY needs to buy products they can't be sure of, especially if they don't end up using them (or the product gets recalled). Yikes. Enjoying your thoughts, Allison.
_______THIS STUFF IS AWESOME, YOU ALL!! YOU ARE CREATING INFORMATION, AND IT'S QUITE THOUGHT-PROVOKING. GREAT WORK! CONTINUE, AND HAVE FUN WITH IT_______
IF I didn't mention yours, it's because I'm not able to see it. I found a couple of working links but without much up yet, and I think I'm missing one link, possibly, still.
Happy candy fest the next few days - if you do that sort of thing, which of course I never do . . . ;-)
Dr. P
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Linky reopened!
Again, now's the time to begin creating your MCC ("big topic" blog) that you chose either Thursday or today.
Looking at the 13 of you, I see that only one (Danielle) has actually done so. Check hers out and let me know if you have questions! Remember, you're probably just going to get a start on your intro with "hook."
(If you linked with your title, great. I know that's what I originally asked. If you didn't, that's ok too.)
Review the MCC guidelines up under "Content" in Blackboard if you have questions.
DrP
Looking at the 13 of you, I see that only one (Danielle) has actually done so. Check hers out and let me know if you have questions! Remember, you're probably just going to get a start on your intro with "hook."
(If you linked with your title, great. I know that's what I originally asked. If you didn't, that's ok too.)
Review the MCC guidelines up under "Content" in Blackboard if you have questions.
DrP
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Hi everyone - Please still be sure to look at the post underneath this one. It's your assignment due by next class (Thursday)!!
I can't seem to comment right now, so this is a response to YOUR responses to the first post.
I enjoyed your thoughts as to how likely the nation is to get this reform right, how big (or not) a problem media consolidation is, etc.
One thing I'm really interested in is your use of the "trojan horse" idea. For those of you who are including this metaphor, what led you to it? Not at all a criticism, more curiosity regarding what we're hearing/reading, taking in and considering, and how it's forming and framing our own thoughts. This will tell us something about consumer health! (because we're all consumers . . . .)
Dr. P
I can't seem to comment right now, so this is a response to YOUR responses to the first post.
I enjoyed your thoughts as to how likely the nation is to get this reform right, how big (or not) a problem media consolidation is, etc.
One thing I'm really interested in is your use of the "trojan horse" idea. For those of you who are including this metaphor, what led you to it? Not at all a criticism, more curiosity regarding what we're hearing/reading, taking in and considering, and how it's forming and framing our own thoughts. This will tell us something about consumer health! (because we're all consumers . . . .)
Dr. P
Hi everyone!
As promised yesterday, here is a post requirement for Tuesday. Because we have no class Tuesday, be prepared to use some of that time on it as well as ordinary out of class homework time if you need to to produce a high-quality post.
Thinking about class on Oct 1 (yesterday), our first post regarding the issues in the health reform debate, and the readings so far, respond to the following (Be careful to read all parts of a question and respond to them. You should expect to write at least a couple of paragraphs for each question):
QUESTION #1.) What makes an opinion different from a "fact"? Are all opinions equally valid? If so, why? If not, why not? What impact do opinions and "facts" have on individual consumer health and on the health of a whole population of consumers?
Background for #2:
A "market" perspective (aka free market perspective) is one that says, basically, supply and demand will work together to solve a problem. Little or no government involvement is needed, and the government should actually be seen as inappropriate according to this point of view.
QUESTION #2.) In our Public Health Code of Ethics, an underlying value is that "Humans have a right to the resources necessary for health" (Public Health Leadership Society, 2002, p. 2). How does this underlying value add to our basic three ethics to help explain why the majority of public health professionals do not encourage using the free market perspective as a base for health care systems?
QUESTION #3.) When looking at the "new media" out there - the grassroots groups on the web, Twitters that seem to get a lot of attention, talk radio, 24-hour news channels, etc - do you see more of the market perspective or more that appears to be based on a Public Health ethics perspective? What does the general public need to know? What are the barriers to them knowing it?
Use references as you need to to back yourself up. Be careful to use a quote when you want to use someone else's words. When you are using their ideas but actually your OWN words, you must still tell us where you found the ideas! Use the format in Question 2 above, giving the author (or group responsible), the date if you can find it, and the page # or section of a website. Then add a list of references that look like the example below.
References
Public Health Leadership Society. (2002). Principles of the ethical practice of public health. Retrieved October 2, 2009 from
http://www.sph.unc.edu/general/ethics_resources_4025_7195.html
As promised yesterday, here is a post requirement for Tuesday. Because we have no class Tuesday, be prepared to use some of that time on it as well as ordinary out of class homework time if you need to to produce a high-quality post.
Thinking about class on Oct 1 (yesterday), our first post regarding the issues in the health reform debate, and the readings so far, respond to the following (Be careful to read all parts of a question and respond to them. You should expect to write at least a couple of paragraphs for each question):
QUESTION #1.) What makes an opinion different from a "fact"? Are all opinions equally valid? If so, why? If not, why not? What impact do opinions and "facts" have on individual consumer health and on the health of a whole population of consumers?
Background for #2:
A "market" perspective (aka free market perspective) is one that says, basically, supply and demand will work together to solve a problem. Little or no government involvement is needed, and the government should actually be seen as inappropriate according to this point of view.
QUESTION #2.) In our Public Health Code of Ethics, an underlying value is that "Humans have a right to the resources necessary for health" (Public Health Leadership Society, 2002, p. 2). How does this underlying value add to our basic three ethics to help explain why the majority of public health professionals do not encourage using the free market perspective as a base for health care systems?
QUESTION #3.) When looking at the "new media" out there - the grassroots groups on the web, Twitters that seem to get a lot of attention, talk radio, 24-hour news channels, etc - do you see more of the market perspective or more that appears to be based on a Public Health ethics perspective? What does the general public need to know? What are the barriers to them knowing it?
Use references as you need to to back yourself up. Be careful to use a quote when you want to use someone else's words. When you are using their ideas but actually your OWN words, you must still tell us where you found the ideas! Use the format in Question 2 above, giving the author (or group responsible), the date if you can find it, and the page # or section of a website. Then add a list of references that look like the example below.
References
Public Health Leadership Society. (2002). Principles of the ethical practice of public health. Retrieved October 2, 2009 from
http://www.sph.unc.edu/general/ethics_resources_4025_7195.html
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Hi everyone -
I appreciate your patience today as we worked together to understand the tech aspects of having a class blog that allows for individual postings rather than only responses to mine.
I see that the blog already has a few "followers" - nice follow through! Although I should let you know that, again, the point of this course component is to co-create an information source, meaning that you are only technically a follower.
Please create your blog if you haven't yet done so - becoming a follower is one step; you will still create your own blog just as Morgan did. Let me know if you have questions as to how to do so, but I am hopeful our in-class practice with Morgan will help you get started. Remember that you start by hitting Create Blog in the upper right corner.
Looking back at this afternoon's discussion, please post a reply providing your take on the following. Again, this is an intro posting, and I am not asking you to provide references, just to get the ball rolling. (PLEASE, though, actually answer the questions. "I have no idea" or "That's what I'm here to learn" are NOT acceptable answers . . . .):
1. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being no problem and 10 being absolute catastrophe), how do you rate the fact that only a handful of corporations dominate production of the bulk of all the newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, books, and movies? Why?
2a) What is the most important issue presented in the first three articles you've read for this class?
2b) What IS the population health-oriented perspective on this issue (the perspective that will create the most good for the most people) - the "right" side?*
2c) What are the chances that health reform legislation will get it "right" on this issue? Why?
See you Thursday!
* And I mean "right" in a sincere sense. I'm not asking you to tell me what you believe I believe is the right side. I'm asking you to explain what you see as the right side, given that - for this class - right means starting with the population health perspective.
Dr. P
I appreciate your patience today as we worked together to understand the tech aspects of having a class blog that allows for individual postings rather than only responses to mine.
I see that the blog already has a few "followers" - nice follow through! Although I should let you know that, again, the point of this course component is to co-create an information source, meaning that you are only technically a follower.
Please create your blog if you haven't yet done so - becoming a follower is one step; you will still create your own blog just as Morgan did. Let me know if you have questions as to how to do so, but I am hopeful our in-class practice with Morgan will help you get started. Remember that you start by hitting Create Blog in the upper right corner.
Looking back at this afternoon's discussion, please post a reply providing your take on the following. Again, this is an intro posting, and I am not asking you to provide references, just to get the ball rolling. (PLEASE, though, actually answer the questions. "I have no idea" or "That's what I'm here to learn" are NOT acceptable answers . . . .):
1. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being no problem and 10 being absolute catastrophe), how do you rate the fact that only a handful of corporations dominate production of the bulk of all the newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, books, and movies? Why?
2a) What is the most important issue presented in the first three articles you've read for this class?
2b) What IS the population health-oriented perspective on this issue (the perspective that will create the most good for the most people) - the "right" side?*
2c) What are the chances that health reform legislation will get it "right" on this issue? Why?
See you Thursday!
* And I mean "right" in a sincere sense. I'm not asking you to tell me what you believe I believe is the right side. I'm asking you to explain what you see as the right side, given that - for this class - right means starting with the population health perspective.
Dr. P
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)