Name:______________________

The following steps can help students analyze differences among a variety of health-care products and evaluate claims made by product promoters include the following:

• Look through a Physician's Desk Reference (PDR)
• Compare several over-the-counter or prescription drugs that are in the same category (for example: compare two or more cough medicines, two or more fever or pain-reducing medicines)
• Compare side-effects and complications, indications and contraindications
• Compare product labeling and advertisement to information found in the PDR

Points to Consider

Consider the following points:

• Product effectiveness: Is one product more effective than other products? What research has been conducted to support product effectiveness claims?
• Side-effects: Does one product have fewer side effects than other products?
• Dose-amount, frequency, method (by mouth, by injection): Is one product more convenient to use than the other products?
• Special instructions, precautions-take with food, keep refrigerated, avoid use of certain types of other medications: Is one product more convenient to use than are other products?
• Cost: Is one product cheaper than other products, yet does it compare well on the above considerations?