Live well with asthma: Peak flow meters – National Consumers League

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Even when you feel like you are breathing well, a peak flow meter can alert you to changes in your lung function. You may see a drop in peak flow numbers even before you have asthma symptoms (like coughing or wheezing). This device can help you manage your asthma and may reduce the number and severity of asthma flare-ups.

Keeping a peak flow chart can be very helpful to you, and to your health care provider. You can use it to track your lung function and provide important information on how you are responding to treatment at home so your doctor or nurse can help you with the best treatment plan.

Use and Care of Your Peak Flow Meter

  • Understand how to properly use your peak flow meter.
  • Follow the cleaning instructions. This will help keep the readings accurate.
  • Follow your health care provider’s recommendation on how often you should use your peak flow meter and at what time of day.

How to Graph Your Score

Ask your health care provider to help you determine your personal best peak flow score.

Your personal best peak flow score may change over time. It changes for children as they grow. Discuss this with your care provider at least once a year.

When you know this personal best score, you can graph your peak flow scores into zones:

  • green (best)
  • yellow (caution)
  • red (medical alert)

Using these colors helps you visually track scores that are in your own personalized zones. One easy way to do this is to use highlighters to color in the green, yellow, and red zones on your chart.

Green Zone: This is a score that is 80 percent to 100 percent of the personal best score. This is your goal for optimum management of your asthma.

Yellow Zone: This is a score that is 50 percent to 80 percent of the personal best score. This is your caution zone. Review your daily treatment plan for proper treatment in this zone, which may include a call to your health care provider or increased medication use or dose. If your prescribed treatment is not working, or you find yourself often falling within this zone, you may need to revise your daily treatment plan with your health care provider.

Red Zone: This is a score that is below 50 percent of your personal best score. Consider this your “danger” zone. Contact your health care provider for instruction when you get a reading in this zone.

Work with your health care provider to find your personal best peak flow score and set the color zones. Be sure to get written instructions on what to do when you record readings in each of these zones.

Let’s say your personal best peak flow score, as determined by your health care provider, was 625. Here is how the color zones could look:

Green Zone: Between 80 and 100% of personal best score. Determine 80% of your score to get the “floor” for the green zone. (625 x .80 = 500; green zone ranges from 500 to 625)

Yellow Zone: Between 50 and 80% of personal best score. Determine 50% of your score to get the “floor” for the yellow zone. (625 x .50 = 312; yellow zone from 312 to 500)

Red Zone: Below 50% of Personal Best (chart red zone below 312)

No matter what your peak flow meter number is, get help if you experience asthma symptoms that you and your health care provider have identified in your plan as being serious (such as severe wheezing or chest tightness).

Parenting a child with asthma is no picnic – National Consumers League

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Watching your child have an asthma attack, or even just symptoms, can be frightening. Keep your kids safe by planning ahead.

For parents of young babies with asthma 

Talk to your doctor to make a daily treatment plan. At the first sign of symptoms (wheezing, coughing, or rapid breathing) respond right away. See a doctor regularly to check on your baby’s asthma, even if the baby is not having symptoms.

Babies can go from having just a few asthma symptoms to a severe attack very quickly! Listen to your baby when he or she is breathing normally so you will be able to spot signs that something is wrong. Your baby needs emergency help if: 

  • Breathing rate increases to more than 40 breaths per minute while sleeping. To find breaths per minute, use a watch or timer to count the number of breaths your
    child takes in 15 seconds, and multiply that number by 4.
  • Suckling or feeding stops altogether.
  • Ribs or stomach move in and out deeply and rapidly
    when breathing.
  • Chest expands but does not deflate when exhaling.
    This is not normal breathing.
  • Face changes color from normal to pale or red in the face, or his or her fingernails turn blue.
  • Cry becomes softer and shorter.
  • Nostrils open wider.

DO NOT do these things if your baby is experiencing asthma symptoms:

  • Do not have your baby breathe warm, moist air (like the mist from a hot shower or vaporizer). These things may contain mold that you may not be able to see, and this could make your baby’s breathing worse.
  • Do not have your baby breathe into a brown paper
    bag     held tightly over the nose and mouth, as people often do for hyperventilation.
  • Do not give your baby over-the-counter medicines.
    Use the asthma medicines that your doctor has prescribed.
  • Do not give your baby a lot of liquid to drink. Normal amounts are okay. 

For parents of school-aged children with asthma

Asthma is the biggest reason children miss school days in the United States, causing more than 14 million missed school days a year! Because children spend so much time at school, teachers and other staff need to understand asthma, how to manage symptoms, and how to do their part to create a healthy breathing environment.

You can help your child stay healthy (and in school!) by welcoming teachers and staff into your child’s asthma management team. Talking regularly with people in your child’s school can help you manage your child’s asthma and enable the school provide a healthy environment. Be sure that the people charged with caring for your children during the day know what they can do to manage your child’s asthma.

By working together, you can keep your child’s asthma under control.

What You Can Do:

Here are some things you can do:

  1. Develop an asthma action plan for school – Work with your child’s health care provider to develop a plan with step-by-step instructions for how to avoid – and if necessary treat – an asthma flare up at school. The plan should include a list of your child’s asthma triggers, medications and emergency contacts. Make multiple copies of the plan and give them to all adults who interact with your child at school, such as teachers, principals, classroom aides, playground monitors and the school nurse.
  2. Make sure your child can take asthma medications at school. Talk with the school about how and when your child can take medications. A school nurse can hold medications (including a fast-acting inhaler or bronchodilator) for your child. Or, if your health care provider agrees, and your child is comfortable, ask that he or she be able to carry and use a fast-acting inhaler at school without asking permission. If your child is embarrassed about taking medications, try to arrange for a private area or time that will not attract attention. Confirm that asthma medications can be and are taken on field trips.
  3. Help your child fully and safely participate in physical activity at school. If exercise is an asthma trigger for your child, confirm that your child can use medications before, during and after physical activity. If necessary, ask the school for permission to modify the physical activity (such as walking quickly instead of running). Kid’s need exercise, so be sure to encourage your child’s participation; but be realistic about what he or she can handle, and keep needed medication available just in case.
  4. Monitor the school environment. Look at your child’s school for asthma triggers, such as strong smelling cleaning supplies. If triggers cannot be reduced, ask about switching your child to another classroom where there is less exposure to the triggers. Look for:
    • Air quality and ventilation

Are the school grounds free of tobacco smoke at all times? Are art and chemistry classrooms well ventilated so chemical vapors don’t spread?

    • Cleanliness

Are the classes dusted and cleaned regularly? Is dust-free chalk used? Are unscented cleaning chemicals used when possible?

    • Classroom pets

Pets with fur or feathers can trigger asthma. Even if the pet is not kept in your child’s classroom, air circulation systems can spread animal dander to other parts of the school.

    • Moisture

Moisture can lead to mold which can trigger asthma. Are windows free of condensation? Are classroom sinks and bathrooms free of leaks?

What Your Child’s School Can Do:

If you have questions about how the school supports children with asthma, talk to school personnel about your concerns.

For more information on what schools can do to manage asthma, visit the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

Adapted from the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 1997 and from guidelines from the School Asthma Education Subcommittee, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

Live well with asthma: Know your triggers – National Consumers League

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May is Asthma Awareness Month! Did you know that many asthma patients have found that making just one lifestyle change helps improve their symptoms. Know your triggers and avoid them.

Things that bring on asthma or make it worse are called your triggers. It is important for you to know your own asthma triggers. They are different for everyone.

Here’s a list of some of the most common allergens (which cause an allergic reaction), irritants (which irritate your body), and other things that can bring on asthma symptoms. Your personal list may include some of these or even additional ones that you and your health care provider have identified.

Allergens

  • Dander (from the skin, hair, or feathers of animals)
  • Dust mites (insects too small to see found in house dust)
  • Cockroaches
  • Pollen from trees, grass, and flowers
  • Mold, both indoor and outdoor

Irritants

  • Tobacco smoke
  • Air pollution
  • Cold or dry air
  • Sudden changes in the weather
  • Strong odors (paint, chemicals, solvents)
  • Scented products (perfume, lotions, candles)
  • Strong emotional expression (including crying or laughing hard) and stress

Others

  • Common colds and other viral infections of the ear, nose and throat
  • Other infections, such as upper respiratory infections
  • Medicines, such as aspirin or beta-blockers
  • Sulfites in food or beverages (dried fruit, wine)
  • Diseases that cause heartburn can worsen asthma symptoms, especially at night.

Control and avoid your triggers

Using your asthma medicine regularly and the right way is a must for managing your asthma. It’s just as important to know what your triggers are and avoid them. Many people with asthma find that even making just one lifestyle change, like not hanging out with people who smoke or getting rid of family pets, has improved their asthma.

The following steps may help you reduce or get rid of the most common allergens and irritants that trigger asthma flare-ups.

Keep your home dust-free.

  • In at least the bedroom, get rid of heavy drapes, upholstered furniture, wool rugs, rug pads, stuffed animals and anything with feathers.
  • Use an airtight, allergy-proof plastic cover on all mattresses and pillows.
  • Use cotton or synthetic blankets, not quilts or comforters.
  • Use foam or Dacron (polyester fiber) pillows, not pillows filled with feathers.
  • Wash all bedding in hot water (150 degrees) every week.
  • Avoid using ceiling fans, and if you do use them, make sure you clean off dust from the hard-to-reach top side.
  • Cover air vents with glass fiber or cheesecloth filters.
  • Consider using a HEPA filter to control airborne allergens.

Keep your home bug-free.

  • Control cockroaches with insect sprays and roach traps, as cockroach allergens are a very common asthma and allergy trigger. Remember to wear a mask while spraying chemicals to avoid breathing in irritating fumes.

Keep your home pet-free (if you can).

  • Sometimes emotional attachments make it difficult to get rid of a family pet. If they have to live inside your house, keep them out of the bedroom where asthmatic family members sleep.
  • Choose a pet without fur or feathers (such as fish).

Keep your home mold-free.

  • Get rid of molds that are often found in basements, bathrooms, attics, closets, and water-damaged areas of the house.  If you find any, after removing it, make it less likely that it will return by taking out carpeting, wallpaper, or paneling in these areas.  Don’t use vaporizers or humidifiers in places that contain (or used to contain) mold.

Keep your home breathe-friendly.

  • Keep indoor humidity low(less than 50 percent), since dust mites and mold increase in high humidity.
  • Don’t smoke! And don’t let others smoke in your house.
  • Avoid using strong scentsand sprays, such as deodorizers, strong smelling cleaning products, and scented candles.
  • Don’t use the self-cleaning feature on your oven.
  • During pollen season, keep windows closed in the car and home to avoid exposure (especially on windy days).
  • Stay indoors when pollen counts are highest – during the middle of the day and afternoon.
  • Watch the weather report and listen for air quality news. Avoid being outside on days when pollution or ozone counts are high.

Outside Your Home

  • Remove wet leaves, cut grass or garden debris.
  • Use non-organic material for mulching and other landscaping.
  • Remove mold from roof shingles or siding.
  • Take your plants outside.
  • Wear a scarf over your mouth and nose in the winter.

 

Women’s health: Understanding hormone risk – National Consumers League

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Hormone health – whether related to health promotion, disease prevention, or optimal nutrition – is a critical issue for women and the health care providers who treat them. Issues such as hormone therapy, breast cancer prevention and treatment, and soy consumption are challenging health topics made more complicated by the ever-growing, and sometimes conflicting, information available to the public.  In this confusing environment, how do women and their health care providers access reliable information to make wise choices?

This question and others were explored at the National Consumers League’s Women’s Health Forum: Navigating Health Information, held on January 18, 2007 in Washington D.C., at the National Press Club. 

The forum provided attendees with background on these topics and explored how women and their health care providers must sift through vast amounts of often conflicting resources in order to find credible and reliable information. The American Nurses Association co-provided the forum and offered up to six hours of continuing education credit for nurses who attended. In addition to nurses, audience participants included other health care providers, consumer advocates, researchers, policy makers, and representatives from government and industry.

Tips for Identifying Reliable Resources

At the Women’s Health Forum, speakers and participants discussed the challenge of finding dependable information about the confusing and often controversial issues within women’s health. How’s a consumer to know whether what he or she is reading is trustworthy? The forum produced the following tips for judging the quality of health information:

1) When the resource includes information focusing on research for a specific medical treatment, consider the following:

  • What is the observed relative risk/benefit of the treatment, as well as the absolute risk/benefit? (See box below on the difference between absolute and relative risk) Are the findings statistically significant? Is this true for all populations or sub-groups evaluated?
  • Do the treatment studies have disease outcome results, or just surrogate markers?
  • If there is no evidence of harm or benefit available for the treatment, consider whether this is because the research findings are contradictory or not performed/available to the public; and
  • Is there a placebo effect – meaning that the patient’s symptoms are altered in some way (i.e., alleviated or exacerbated) by an otherwise inert treatment, due to the individual expecting or believing that it will work.

2) Always consider the source of information (does it appear in a peer-reviewed journal, or is it a sponsored white paper that has not undergone external scientific review?), the completeness of the research, and the financial ties of the source. Keep in mind that results from industry-sponsored studies are sometimes more favorable to that industry’s products than those conducted by independent third parties.

3) When reviewing health information, consider it in the context of your immediate concern (e.g., any symptoms you are trying to relieve or health conditions you want to treat now) AND your longer-term concerns (e.g., conditions or future health problems you are trying to avoid). Looking at the information in terms of both current and future health implications should help you make more informed and complete decisions.

Understanding risk

There are two main ways to talk about risk – relative risk and absolute risk.

Absolute risk refers to a person’s risk (or chance) of developing a disease over a certain time period.

Relative risk compares the risk of getting a disease in two different groups of people – such as a group taking medicine A compared to a group taking medicine B.

Although reports on new treatments often highlight the relative risk reduction of a treatment, the absolute risk gives a better sense of your individual risk. Both absolute and relative risk are important to consider, but relative risk can be misleading.

For Example:

Say 2 in 10,000 women risk developing cataracts by the time they are 70 years old. Research shows that a new treatment reduces the relative risk by 50%, meaning that a woman’s risk is reduced by half. In this example, the absolute risk of developing a cataract now falls from 2 in 10,000 women (.02%), to 1 in 10,000 women (.01%). A woman’s relative risk may be reduced by 50% with treatment, but a .02% absolute risk without treatment is still a pretty small risk.

This difference is particularly important for patients to consider when they look at the risks of particular treatments as well as benefits. If you have a very low absolute risk for a disease even before treatment, then the side effects associated with that treatment may not be worth the relative benefit you might get from taking it.

Social responsibility all about worker welfare, survey says – National Consumers League

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More than environmental stewardship and philanthropy, nearly one in two Americans believe the most important proof of corporate social responsibility is treating employees well.

A national opinion survey commissioned by the National Consumers League and Fleishman-Hillard International Communications found that American consumers have their own views on corporate social responsibility that run counter to established beliefs.

“Our research reflects an exciting coming-of-age for consumers, as they are more empowered than ever to assess and react to corporate social responsibility issues,” said National Consumers League President Linda Golodner. “Activists and consumer watchdog groups remain important opinion leaders, but rank-and-file Americans are becoming more knowledgeable than ever on socially responsible behavior, and this trend will influence businesses and increasingly benefit society.”

Americans define CSR in ways most relevant to them

The survey found that 76 percent of American consumers agree that to be socially responsible, companies should place employee salary and wage increases above making charitable contributions. Similarly, the survey found that 76 percent believe that a company’s treatment of its employees plays a big role in consumer purchasing decisions.

“What American consumers are telling us — perhaps influenced by ongoing coverage of corporate layoffs and employee-benefit reductions — sheds new light on how we view corporate social responsibility,” said Fleishman-Hillard Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John D. Graham. “If companies want to maintain and strengthen their reputations, it will be essential for them to invest actively and visibly in their employees. It is also more important than ever to understand the online resources that Americans are using to learn about companies and their track records for corporate social responsibility.”

Values matter

Average Americans feel strong about buying products from or working for a company whose values are aligned with their own personal values. Survey respondents say it’s “extremely” or “very” important to work for (79 percent), buy products and services from (65 percent), and socialize with (72 percent) those who have similar values and principles.

“The study findings are especially welcome because they demonstrate that the brand of CSR that most corporations favor simply isn’t enough to impress most consumers,” said Mal Warwick, chair of the Social Venture Network and co-author of Values-Driven Business: How to Change the World, Make Money, and Have Fun. “The consumer attitudes reported in this study reflect more closely an approach to social responsibility called the ‘triple bottom line,’ in which people, planet, and profit are balanced. Rather than detract from the traditional bottom line, this approach, requiring policies that actively favor the key stakeholders in a business — its employees, its customers, its suppliers, its community, and its environment, as well as its owners — makes that business more competitive.”

Corporate America receives low marks for CSR performance

While Americans believe that social responsibility is important, only 21 percent give U.S. corporations top marks for being socially responsible. When asked to rate how companies are performing compared with two to three years ago, only 30 percent believe that companies are doing a “somewhat better” or “a lot better” job of being socially responsible.

The Internet Is transforming the CSR landscape

Use of Internet technology is changing the way people learn about and determine which companies are socially responsible, the survey found.

Almost half of the respondents (47 percent) say they have used the Internet to learn about the extent to which a company is or is not being socially responsible. The survey results also demonstrate that 53 percent of Americans believe that their own online research is one of the most credible means by which to shape their opinions on deciding whether U.S. companies are being socially responsible.

The research indicates that a new generation of online activists is emerging that cuts across many socioeconomic groups in the arena of corporate social responsibility. Going online to learn and advocate for social issues appears to be increasingly a mainstream activity of the average American. The survey found that 58 percent of survey respondents said that because of the increased availability of online resources and information, they (or other people like them) are “more informed” about companies’ records for social responsibility than they were a few years ago.

The survey also found a positive relationship between active Internet use and engagement in social responsibility. About two-fifths of those using the Internet have sent e-mail to a company about its products or services (41 percent) or to an elected state or federal official about an issue (38 percent). Americans who frequently use online resources were also more aware of global standards.

“These survey findings indicate that as the American public continues to refine its definition of corporate social responsibility and gain empowerment through online resources in their new role as activists for social change, companies, academics, and interest groups must re-evaluate the criteria they have established in this arena,” said Paul Argenti, professor of Corporate Communication at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.  “Corporations must engage in a new level of dialogue that resonates with stakeholders’ personal values. They also will have to increase transparency and adopt a more integrated approach to monitoring and influencing the online communications shaping their reputations.”

About the survey

In 2005, Fleishman-Hillard partnered with the National Consumers League (NCL) to conduct a benchmark survey that would assess consumer attitudes toward corporate social responsibility as well as their behaviors regarding CSR. The survey also tracked the role that media and technology play in informing people about what companies are doing to be socially responsible.  In the first quarter of 2006, the professional interviewing service Western Wats conducted a quantitative survey with 800 U.S. adults nationwide through telephone interviews, averaging 30 minutes in length. The sampling error for the survey results reported is plus or minus two to four percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

 

Groups unite in call for action against phishing scams – National Consumers League

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March 16, 2006

Contact: 202-835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC—Consumer confidence in conducting business and protecting personal data online is threatened every day by phishing scams. In an initiative led by the National Consumers League (NCL), law enforcement, financial services and technical industries have joined forces to combat this threat.  The group today issued a “call to action” with the release of a paper outlining key recommendations that form a comprehensive plan for combating phishing more effectively.

Phishing is a large and growing problem, in which identity thieves pose as legitimate companies, government agencies, or other trusted entities in order to trick consumers into providing their bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal information. In 2005, phishing scams ranked 6th in Internet complaints to NCL’s Internet Fraud Watch program and the scams continue to dupe consumers.  A May 2005 consumer survey by First Data found that 43 percent of respondents had received a phishing contact, and of those, 5 percent (approximately 4.5 million people) provided the requested personal information. Nearly half of the phishing victims, 45 percent, reported that their information was used to make an unauthorized transaction, open an account, or commit another type of identity theft.

NCL’s new report, the result of a comprehensive three-day brainstorming retreat organized by the Washington-based consumer advocacy organization last September, makes multiple recommendations on how to combat it. 

“There is no silver bullet to solve the phishing problem, but there are known responses that need more support and promising new approaches that could help deter it,” said Susan Grant, director of NCL’s National Fraud Information Center. The key recommendations in the report are:

  • Create systems that are “secure by design” to make consumers safer online without having to be computer experts;
  • Implement better ways to authenticate email users and Web sites to make it easier to tell the difference between legitimate individuals and organizations and phishers posing as them;
  • Provide better tools for investigation and enforcement to prevent phishers from taking advantage of technology, physical location, and information-sharing barriers to avoid detection and prosecution;
  • Learn from the “lifecycle of the phisher” and use that knowledge about how these criminals operate to exploit points of vulnerability and stop them;
  • Explore the use of “white lists” to identify Web sites that are spoofing legitimate organizations and use “black lists” to create a phishing recall system that would prevent phishing messages from reaching consumers;
  • Provide greater support for consumer education, using clear, consistent messages and innovative methods to convey them.

Sponsorship for the initiative was provided by the American Express Company, First Data Corporation, and Microsoft Corporation.  The recommendations were developed by retreat participants representing financial services firms, Internet service providers, online retailers, computer security firms, software companies, consumer protection agencies, law enforcement agencies, consumer and ID theft victims organizations, academia, and coalitions such as the Anti-Phishing Working Group and the National Cyber Security Alliance.  Peter Swire, C. William O’Neill Professor of Law at the Moritz College of Law of the Ohio State University, wrote the report for NCL.

In the next phase of this project, NCL is forming working groups and inviting organizations and experts who are concerned about phishing to examine how the anti-phishing strategies in the report can be adopted on a widespread basis. “We all need to work together in a systematic approach if we want to have a significant impact on the tidal wave of phishing that is hitting consumers and hurting legitimate organizations,” said Grant.

To obtain a copy of “A Call for Action,” click here.

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About the National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Groups unite to issue call for action against phishing scams – National Consumers League

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Consumer confidence in conducting business and protecting personal data online is threatened every day by phishing scams. In an initiative led by NCL, law enforcement, financial services, and technical industries have joined forces to combat this threat. The group have issued a “call to action” with the release of a paper outlining key recommendations that form a comprehensive plan for combating phishing more effectively.Phishing is a large and growing problem, in which identity thieves pose as legitimate companies, government agencies, or other trusted entities in order to trick consumers into providing their bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal information. In 2005, phishing scams ranked 6th in Internet complaints to NCL’s Internet Fraud Watch program and the scams continue to dupe consumers. A May 2005 consumer survey by First Data found that 43 percent of respondents had received a phishing contact, and of those, 5 percent (approximately 4.5 million people) provided the requested personal information. Nearly half of the phishing victims, 45 percent, reported that their information was used to make an unauthorized transaction, open an account, or commit another type of identity theft.

NCL’s new report, the result of a comprehensive three-day brainstorming retreat organized by the Washington-based consumer advocacy organization last September, makes multiple recommendations on how to combat it.

“There is no silver bullet to solve the phishing problem, but there are known responses that need more support and promising new approaches that could help deter it,” said Susan Grant, director of NCL’s National Fraud Information Center. The key recommendations in the report are:

  • Create systems that are “secure by design” to make consumers safer online without having to be computer experts;
  • Implement better ways to authenticate email users and Web sites to make it easier to tell the difference between legitimate individuals and organizations and phishers posing as them;
  • Provide better tools for investigation and enforcement to prevent phishers from taking advantage of technology, physical location, and information-sharing barriers to avoid detection and prosecution;
  • Learn from the “lifecycle of the phisher” and use that knowledge about how these criminals operate to exploit points of vulnerability and stop them;
  • Explore the use of “white lists” to identify Web sites that are spoofing legitimate organizations and use “black lists” to create a phishing recall system that would prevent phishing messages from reaching consumers;
  • Provide greater support for consumer education, using clear, consistent messages and innovative methods to convey them.

Sponsorship for the initiative was provided by the American Express Company, First Data Corporation, and Microsoft Corporation. The recommendations were developed by retreat participants representing financial services firms, Internet service providers, online retailers, computer security firms, software companies, consumer protection agencies, law enforcement agencies, consumer and ID theft victims organizations, academia, and coalitions such as the Anti-Phishing Working Group and the National Cyber Security Alliance. Peter Swire, C. William O’Neill Professor of Law at the Moritz College of Law of the Ohio State University, wrote the report for NCL.

In the next phase of this project, NCL is forming working groups and inviting organizations and experts who are concerned about phishing to examine how the anti-phishing strategies in the report can be adopted on a widespread basis. “We all need to work together in a systematic approach if we want to have a significant impact on the tidal wave of phishing that is hitting consumers and hurting legitimate organizations,” said Grant.

Who does what: consumers confused about eye care providers, training, M.D. status – National Consumers League

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November 17, 2005

Contact: (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC — A survey released today by the National Consumers League (NCL), found that many consumers, including those who wear glasses or contact lenses, are uncertain about the differences among various eye care providers, the services they perform, and the training and education they must complete. The survey showed that one-third of respondents (30 percent) incorrectly thought optometrists have earned medical degrees. Similarly, nearly 50 percent thought an optometrist can be board certified, when, in fact, only licensure is required. Despite the confusion about which eye care professionals have medical degrees, consumers have strong opinions on the need for the degree: when it comes to performing surgeries (including laser), injecting /prescribing medications, and emergency care, most respondents indicated that they would prefer their eye-care provider to have a medical degree.

“When it comes to eye care, it is vital for consumers to understand who can provide what kind of services,” said NCL President Linda Golodner. “There are a number of different types of professionals on the eye care team, and unfortunately, many consumers, as seen in our survey, don’t differentiate among them. As in any aspect of health care, consumers must take an active role and familiarize themselves with who it is they’re seeking treatment from.”

The nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization, NCL commissioned the survey in order to explore consumers’ understanding of the eye care arena, which is often confusing due to the number of professionals who offer services.

  • Opticians dispense and fit contact lenses and glasses
  • Optometrists examine the eye to diagnose vision problems and abnormalities, and prescribe glasses, contact lenses and some medications
  • Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who deliver total eye care services, treat eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery.
  • These professionals have different education profiles and their practice parameters are determined by varying levels of regulation.

To help consumers better understand eye care, NCL has created new Web resources and tips at its Web site, www.nclnet.org. At the site, consumers can learn about the various members of the eye care team, their training and the services they can provide. It also includes tips and a checklist of questions for patients to ask their eye care providers about treatments and services. NCL has also produced a white paper about the state of eye care in the United States. To learn more, visit www.nclnet.org.

The Web-based survey of 600 adults over the age of 25 was conducted for NCL by TNS jstreet, a Washington-based survey firm. The survey was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Teens spend big, but don’t always spend smart – National Consumers League

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Over half of teens (52 percent) wrongly believe that a credit card is an informal agreement to pay money owed. And where are they learning this? Sixty-three percent say they get most of their information about money, credit, and other financial matters from their parents.

The National Consumers League commissioned a survey by Opinion Research Corporation International that tested teens’ knowledge of financial issues and examined their attitudes toward money, work, and savings. It also questioned how they plan to deal with credit cards and other loans. Findings showed that, while teens are thinking about saving, paying for college, and obtaining credit cards, they may not have a grasp of exactly what a credit card is, how much of college expenses their parents can pay, or what they’ll make when they get their first job.

Work, money, and savings

It’s not news to anyone who has visited a fast food restaurant in the past decade that many teens are working; 62 percent say they get most of their money from part-time employment, summer jobs, or neighborhood jobs such as babysitting or raking leaves. Over half (55 percent) say they work mainly for spending money. Another 35 percent mainly save the money they make.

Saving money is important to American teens; about nine out of ten save money, though 36 percent admit that they’re saving for specific items they want to purchase. Almost one quarter (22 percent) are saving for college and 27 percent save for no particular reason. Four out of ten say they save half or more of their money, and three out of four have a savings account. Only about one in five teens report having a checking account, and small percentages say they have ATM (12 percent) and debit cards
(8 percent).

Paying for college

Teens are falsely optimistic about their ability to obtain scholarships and grants to pay for college; 38 percent say that’s the main way they’ll cover the costs. One in four say their parents will carry the burden, 12 percent plan to work through school to pay the costs, and only ten percent believe they’ll mainly use student loans to cover the cost. According to a report by The College Board, loans comprise 58 percent of college aid packages, while scholarships and grants make up only 25 percent. Most of NCL’s survey respondents (56 percent) believe their parents will pay for 20-50 percent of their college bill, while 12 percent don’t expect their parents to make any contribution.

Life after college and credit cards

Over one-third (38 percent) of teens believe they will make under $25,000 in their first job out of college. The reality, according to the Collegiate Employment Research Institute, is that the average college graduate with a bachelor’s degree makes between $29,300 and $34,600. One in five survey respondents think they’ll make more than $36,000 in the first year. Teens are planning to get credit cards; 58 percent plan say they’ll get their first card before they graduate from college.

When teens plan to get their first credit card

This interest in credit cards is noteworthy since over half (52 percent) wrongly believe that a credit card is an informal agreement to pay money owed. And where are they learning this? Sixty-three percent say they get most of their information about money, credit, and other financial matters from their parents. But parents might not be the best resource. The average American family carries almost $9,000 in credit card debt. And even if their parents are providing sound advice, over half of the teens admitted that, when they do talk to their parents about money, it’s to ask for some to spend.

Financial privacy, shopping online

Though thought to be more Internet savvy than their parents, teens have some disturbing misconceptions about shopping online. Sixty-eight percent mistakenly believe it’s safer to pay for goods bought online with a check or money order than by giving a credit card number and 55 percent wrongly think that businesses must go through a screening process to make sure they are legitimate before they can put up a Web site. When asked the same two questions in 2001, adults knew a bit more than the teens, with 41 percent correctly answering the safest way to pay question, and 73 percent knowing that companies are not screened before they put up site. Teen respondents also showed a lack of understanding of important financial privacy issues. A majority (70 percent) wrongly believe that it’s illegal for banks to share a person’s financial information with other affiliated companies.

NCL’s consumer education campaign

NCL has launched a new consumer education campaign with an unrestricted educational grant provided by Bank of America. The goal is to help change misconceptions and provide teens with a financial education foundation they can carry with them as they make important financial decisions later in life. The campaign includes new lessons on banking and credit for teachers and LifeSmarts coaches as well as media outreach to promote LifeSmarts, the League’s program to bring consumer education to high school students. The lessons are available online at www.lifesmarts.org.

Trends in medicine: What is evidence-based medicine? – National Consumers League

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Doctors and health care professionals are attempting to help patients make sense of the overload of health information by gathering, evaluating, and sharing well–tested, proven medical research. This process of bringing the best available evidence from scientific research to patient care is known as evidence-based medicine (EBM).

The emphasis with EBM is on applying research to medical care: when there is evidence that a treatment works and benefits the patient, it is practiced; where there is evidence that a treatment has not benefited the patient, is ineffective, or harmful, it is not practiced; and where there is not enough evidence, healthcare professionals should proceed carefully.

Many patients are educating themselves about their health, self-diagnosing, and pursuing care on their own.

Some patients are using health information to self-diagnose their conditions and asking doctors to prescribe treatments based on their own research, others are confused by the overload of health information.  To improve health outcomes, doctors and patients should share the responsibility for making health care decisions.

  • Patients are bringing in articles and ads and self-diagnosing specific conditions. This presents an opportunity for doctors and patients to discuss the patient’s actual situation and make appropriate decisions based on shared information.
    • Pharmaceutical ads are a major source of tension because they tell patients to ask the doctor for certain prescriptions by name without knowing if it’s appropriate. Doctors should take the time to explain to patients why the drug is or is not appropriate for them and then discuss other treatment options as well.
  • Doctors can start the dialogue to help patients sort out their questions and concerns.
  • Learning about medical treatments from friends, family and co-workers is a significant source of information that is credible to patients.
  • Often times, patients feel they know what is wrong before seeing a doctor and the challenge is communicating this knowledge to the doctor.
  • Doctors who disagree with their patients’ diagnosis or do not provide them with the desired treatment are often criticized. Shared decision making helps avoid disagreements and leads to successful patient outcomes.

All of the health information now available to consumers is changing the patient/doctor relationship.

Patients’ increased access to medical information is changing the relationship between patient and health care professional.

  • Patients have access to more medical information than ever before through magazine articles, advertisements and online searches, and health care professionals can play a critical role in helping patients differentiate the good from the bad.
  • More patients are taking more responsibility for their own care and want doctors to be partners, not bosses, in this relationship.
  • As America becomes more diverse, we need to pay special attention to cultural, linguistic, and economic barriers that may inhibit consumers from getting the information they need to make appropriate health care decisions.

To help doctors and patients make treatment decisions, it is necessary to sort through health information and find the best medical treatment based on what has been proven to work and is effective

Many doctors and other health care professionals are attempting to help patients make sense of the overload of health information by gathering, evaluating, and sharing well-tested, proven, medical research.  With this research, the health care professional and patient make treatment decisions together based on what works and is effective.

  • Health care systems are working towards a decision-making process incorporating medical research evaluation along with good stewardship – if there is evidence a treatment works and benefits the patient, it is practiced; if there is evidence a treatment has no benefit or may harm the patient, it is not done.  In cases where there is insufficient evidence about a treatment or if evidence doesn’t exist, a consensus is developed among health care professionals and they proceed carefully.  It is a shared decision-making process between patient and doctor.
  • Your doctor uses clinical judgment, incorporating the best research, his/her knowledge and experience, to present you with treatment options.
  • Making decisions based on what has been proven to work helps ensure that you and your health professional choose the most effective and beneficial treatment for you.  Understanding what works most effectively helps spend your health care resources wisely and benefits everyone.

Ask your doctor or other health care professional about how you can decide together what is the best medical treatment for you.

Patients and doctors need to engage in a dialogue about making the best medical treatment decisions.

  • Health care providers are working at bringing together the best available information about health care practices to create and implement programs that help people live healthier lives.
  • Health care providers have created specific care management programs for many diseases, including diabetes, asthma, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and depression.
    • Health care professionals stay up-to-date by using a computer system of well-tested medical research that can be used right in your doctor’s office.

Additional Resources about Evidence Based Medicine

To learn more about making health care decisions based on the best medical evidence, check the following resources for quality health information:

Cochrane Consumer Network.  This Web site is part of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that aims to review all healthcare evidence and publishes the reviews electronically. The consumer network website summarizes the reviews for consumers.

MEDLINEplus at www.medlineplus.gov has extensive health information for consumers from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) consumer Web site at www.healthchoices.org explains how to choose a health plan based on quality. Includes a Health Plan Report Card.

Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) website at www.jcaho.org has information on the quality of care at your local health care facility.  JCAHO evaluates the quality and safety of care for health care organizations.

Kaiser Permanente’s Care Management Institute, www.kpcmi.org, establishes care management programs for patients based on the best available evidence.

To learn more about evidence-based health care and how healthcare professionals are making treatment decisions, Check out the online course developed by CUE (Consumers United for Evidence Based Health Care) on Understanding Evidence Based Healthcare: A Foundation for Action.

About this Web page

These messages were developed by the NCL, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, to educate consumers about the concept of Evidence-Based Medicine. For more information, contact NCL’s health policy team.