There are so many different messages out there how do I know which ones to believe?
Be wise, here are a few questions to ask when looking at information and a sample.
The following is an example of taking two different sources of information and comparing the information using the questions above.
| Question |
The Health Unit |
Tan A Lot Spot
(local tanning booth) |
| Are they selling a product? |
No, the Health Unit is a not for profit organizations who's job it is to reduce the number of people getting skin cancer in they local community. They provide their information and services for free, and they benefit from protecting you from skin cancer. |
Yes, they sell tanning sessions as well as accompanying products. The more they sell the more money they make regardless of the impact on health. |
| Who are the health experts? (for skin cancer) Where do they get their information? |
Yes, the Health Unit is an expert in skin cancer prevention. It is part of their job to reduce skin cancer rates and they get their information from the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Dermatology Association Both leaders in skin cancer research and information. |
Staff working in this businesses are not health experts (students mostly) and their information and advice comes largely from owners and other paid spokespeople or from studies that are paid for by the tanning industry or ones that are not very reliable but that provide pro tanning bed messages. They avoid providing information that might conflict with the product they are selling. |
| What do the Health Experts Say? |
Tanning is dangerous, whether in the sun or in a tanning bed. |
N/A |
| What do they claim? (How does it compare to the Health Experts?) |
Same as health experts |
Tanning beds are a safe way to tan. It is best to get a base tan. Tanning beds are good for your health(Message conflicts with the health experts) |
Conclusion??? The Health Unit is a reliable source of information for skin cancer. |
