Consumers’ freedom of choice—advertising aimed at children,product placement,and food labeling

The prevalence of obesity and overweight skyrockets and leads to a myriad of consequences on the individual and the population level, as well as on health care systems and the economy. Food advertisement and promotion, especially aimed at children, and food labeling are important factors behind the obesity epidemic. One of the aims of this paper is to identify and communicate the subtle and aggressive marketing strategies of unhealthy food in order to protect consumers’ freedom of choice. We also aim to raise awareness concerning advertising aimed at children, product placement, and food labeling among consumers and public health professionals. Multiple studies conducted by European consumers’ associations reveal the negative impact of the advertisement of foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt aimed at children. Industry exerts a whole variety of methods concerning food promotion. Parents are concerned with the advertisement of unhealthy food and largely miss the promotion of healthy food. Product placement of an advertising nature disrespects the principle of separation between advertising and editorial content, and, therefore, jeopardizes consumers’ freedom of choice. Nutrition facts on food packages do not adequately attract consumers and are not easily understandable. We conclude that self-regulation on part of the industry and national measures may not sufficiently protect consumers, especially children. There is a need for strict, European-Union-wide legislation on advertisements and the promotion of unhealthy food covering the whole variety of marketing tactics. Food labeling needs to be simplified and standardized across Europe to help citizens make healthy food choices. This paper contains no conflicts of interest.     

Community pharmacists in Australia: barriers to information provision on complementary and alternative medicines

Objective To determine, by surveying Australian community pharmacists, the perceived barriers to the provision of information about complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) and suggestions for overcoming them. Method Anonymous, self-administered survey sent to a random sample of 701 pharmacists registered in three states of Australia in 2004. Main outcome measure Pharmacists’ perceived barriers to the provision of information about CAMs. Results A total of 344 questionnaires were returned by pharmacists (49% response) of which 211 (30%) were currently practising in community pharmacy. Ninety-five percent of surveyed community pharmacists indicated that they personally received enquires about CAMs, with fewer than 15% reporting they were “very confident” in answering queries about safety, interactions or benefits of CAMs. Frequently used CAM information sources were those from manufacturers and distributors, professional newsletters and journals and textbooks. Pharmacists’ perceived barriers to the provision of CAM information included a lack of suitable training (most training was informal), deficiencies in available information sources, a lack of managerial support, the need for regulatory changes, consumer beliefs about CAM safety and time constraints due to competing demands in daily practice. Pharmacists proposed improvements to overcome these barriers including improvements to training. Conclusion There is scope for pharmacy professional organisations and educational institutions to further support pharmacists in their practice through providing information on the best information sources available and training that meets the needs of undergraduate students, pharmacists and other pharmacy staff. There is a need to examine regulatory requirements concerning the provision of product information with CAMs in Australia and to implement mechanisms for increasing consumer awareness of regulatory procedures for these medicines.     

消费者对网上药店支付与售后服务方式偏好的调查

目的 探究网上药店支付与售后服务方式对消费者心理的影响,为网上药店发展提供参考依据.方法 采用自填式问卷进行调查,将有效问卷的数据导入统计软件进行统计分析.结果 数据资料显示,调查对象中有71.9%的人在购药时倾向于使用网上银行进行支付,80.4%的调查对象希望增设用药咨询,76.6%的调查对象期待退换货的售后服务.结论 消费者看重网上交易的安全与方便,企业应增强网上支付交易的安全性,并完善相应服务措施.     

Inpatient Rehabilitation Quality of Care From the Patient’s Perspective: Effect of Data Collection Timing and Patient Characteristics

ObjectiveTo compare, by collection time and patient characteristics, inpatient rehabilitation quality measure scores calculated using patient-reported data.DesignCohort study of rehabilitation inpatients with neurologic conditions who reported their experience of care and pain status at discharge and 1month after discharge.SettingTwo inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs).ParticipantsPatients with neurologic conditions (N=391).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresWe calculated 18 quality measure scores using participants’ responses to 55 experience of care and health status questions addressing communication, support and encouragement, care coordination, discharge information, goals, new medications, responsiveness of staff, cleanliness, quietness, pain management, care transitions, overall hospital rating, willingness to recommend, and pain.ResultsOf the 391 participants reporting at discharge, 277 (71%) also reported postdischarge after multiple attempts by e-mail, mail, and telephone. Discharge experience of care quality scores ranged from 25% (responsiveness of hospital staff) to 75% (willingness to recommend hospital); corresponding postdischarge scores were 32% to 87%, respectively. Five of the 16 experience of care quality scores increased significantly between discharge and postdischarge. The percentage of participants reporting high pain levels at discharge did not change across time periods. Patients with less education, older age, higher motor and cognitive function, and those who were not Hispanic or black had more favorable quality measure scores.ConclusionPatients’ experience of care responses tended to be more favorable after discharge compared to discharge, suggesting that survey timing is important. Responses were more favorable for patients with selected characteristics, suggesting the possible need for risk adjustment if patient-reported quality measure scores are compared across IRFs.     

Release of nanomaterials from solid nanocomposites and consumer exposure assessment – a forward-looking review

The European chemical legislation requires manufacturers and importers of chemicals to do consumer exposure assessment when the chemical has certain hazards associated to it (e.g. explosive, carcinogenicity, and hazardous to the aquatic environment), but the question is how this obligation can be met in light of the scientific uncertainty and technical challenges related to exposure assessment of nanomaterials. In this paper, we investigate to what extent the information and data in the literature can be used to perform consumer exposure assessment according to the REACH requirements and we identify and discuss the key data needs and provide recommendations for consumer exposure assessment of nanomaterials. In total, we identified 76 studies of relevance. Most studies have analyzed the release of Ag and TiO₂ from textiles and paints, and CNT and SiO₂ from nanocomposites. Less than half of the studies report their findings in a format that can be used for exposure assessment under REACH, and most do not include characterization of the released particles. Although inhalation, dermal, and oral exposures can be derived using the guidelines on how to complete consumer exposure assessments under REACH, it is clear that the equations are not developed to take the unique properties of nanomaterials into consideration. Future research is therefore needed on developing more generalized methods for representing nanomaterial release from different product groups at relevant environmental conditions. This includes improving the analytical methods for determining nanomaterial alteration and transformation, as well as quantification, which could subsequently lead to more nano-specific consumer exposure assessment models.     

Engaging with ethnic minority consumers to improve safety in cancer services: A national stakeholder analysis

ObjectiveEthnic minority populations are often exposed to healthcare-associated harm. There is little evidence about whether current patient engagement interventions are relevant. We conducted a national analysis of existing approaches amongst stakeholders in cancer care.MethodsFive online focus groups were conducted with 24 participants from consumer and health organisations across the Australian cancer system. Case studies depicting common methods of healthcare engagement to improve patient safety were developed and used to explore the suitability of current methods. Data were analysed thematically using the framework method.ResultsThree themes were identified: 1) sociocultural foundations of consumer engagement; 2) principles for adaptation; and 3) integration and implementation into cancer services. Sociocultural beliefs about cancer were considered to influence suitability. Adaptation may include multichannel methods, visual modalities and culturally specific content. Health system capacity, cultural competence of health service providers and consumer-led co-development were identified as critical to successful implementation.ConclusionsExisting engagement strategies are not completely suitable for ethnic minority populations nor feasible for implementation within cancer services.Practice ImplicationsHealthcare services must work with ethnic minority populations to understand if and how underpinning beliefs influence engagement with cancer services. A range of tangible techniques may enhance the suitability of existing interventions.     

A rapid review of consumer health information needs and preferences

ObjectiveThis rapid review summarizes best available evidence on consumers’ needs and preferences for information about healthcare, with a focus on the Australian context. Three questions are addressed: 1) Where do consumers find and what platform do they use to access information about healthcare? 2) How do consumers use the healthcare information that they find? 3) About which topics or subjects do consumers need healthcare information?MethodsA hierarchical approach was adopted with evidence first sought from reviews then high quality studies using Medline (via PubMed), CINAHL, Embase, the JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, the Campbell Collaboration Library of Systematic Reviews, EPPI-Centre, and Epistemonikos.ResultsTwenty-eight articles were included; four systematic reviews, three literature reviews, thirteen quantitative studies, six qualitative studies, and two mixed methods studies.ConclusionConsumers seek health information at varying times along the healthcare journey and through various modes of delivery. Complacency with historical health information modes is no longer appropriate and flexibility is essential to suit growing consumer demands.Practice implicationsHealth information should be readily available in different formats and not exclusive to any single medium.