Campaigns
The National Women's Health Resource Center, Inc. is sponsoring the following national public education initiatives in partnership with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and corporations. These campaigns raise women's awareness about overlooked or difficult to discuss health topics, provide them with information on the latest medical advances, and encourage them to take charge of their health and wellness.
NWHRC has teamed with Bed Bath & Beyond to help the 35 million Americans suffering from allergies understand how they can combat major indoor allergens, room-by-room. Housed at www.bedbathandbeyond.com, the Healthy Home Room-by-Room Guide offers general allergy information, resources and simple household tips for maintaining a healthy, allergen-free environment.
As part of the campaign, consumers will find a free indoor allergens fact sheet in Bed Bath & Beyond stores nationwide that previews the in-depth household tips showcased in the online guide.
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July is Dry Eye Awareness Month, and to help raise awareness of this medical condition, the NWHRC released the Dry Eye Hot Jobs, the first-ever listing of the nation's top job categories most likely to contribute to dry eye. Office-based jobs such as administrative, finance and information technology positions top the Hot Jobs list, followed by the categories construction/manufacturing, health care/medical, education and retail/sales.
Dry eye is a medical condition that affects more than an estimated 20 million people in the United States, yet it remains an often unrecognized on-the-job health issue as many sufferers remain unaware of the condition and its causes. Workplace health and safety is a critical issue for Americans—with labor time lost due to health reasons representing lost economic output totaling $260 billion per year.
To access the complete Dry Eye Hot Jobs listing, click here. There is also a Dry Eye Quiz available that people can take and share with their health care professional to help determine whether they have chronic dry eye. Additionally, the NWHRC Web site contains a chronic dry eye tool kit that provides resources on dry eye as well as lifestyle tips and questions for people to discuss with their eye care professional.
The Dry Eye Hot Jobs listing is based on a number of factors known to contribute to dry eye, including prolonged computer use and exposure to dust and allergens, coupled with data from a nationwide survey of people who suffer from dry eye symptoms. For key survey findings, click here.
The Dry Eye Hot Jobs campaign has been acknowledged and supported as an important health awareness effort by the following health care and professional organizations: Cornea Society, Lupus Foundation of America, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, Rosacea Research & Development Institute, Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation and American College of Rheumatology.
The Dry Eye Hot Jobs campaign is an NWHRC educational initiative supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Allergan.
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Dare to Be Aware is an educational campaign that challenges women of all ages to become educated about colorectal cancer (CRC) and to take steps to prevent, diagnose and treat it. Campaign materials help women face their fears of the disease and the diagnostic procedure. It encourages women to understand that colorectal cancer is not just a man's disease and that it is treatable if diagnosed.
Most recently, the Black Women's Health Imperative and the NWHRC joined forces to launch African American Women Dare to be Aware. An educational initiative designed to uniquely address the needs of African American women, the African American Women Dare to Be Aware initiative confronts the issues preventing African American women from getting screened and seeking treatment by daring them to recognize their heightened risk and take action.
Dare to Be Aware is supported by a grant from Roche Pharmaceutical.
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Support Partners is a national campaign that encourages a team approach to overcoming depression. By pairing people living with depression with partners, the program aims to foster open communication and create systems of support that eliminate isolation and encourage recovery. It offers a step-by-step approach to building partnerships between people living with depression and those who want to help them
In February of this year, NWHRC and Eli Lilly launched the Ages and Stages portion of the Support Partners campaign. As part of this program, a survey of more than 1,200 women with depression revealed that their views of, and experiences with, the illness varied considerably depending on their age, often leading to misunderstanding of the illness, misdiagnosis and lack of proper care. Overall, findings show that most women are neither aware of the age-dependent circumstances that can put them at risk for depression, nor do they adopt a comprehensive treatment approach that can increase the chances of becoming well.
The Support Partners campaign is supported by an educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company
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CAMPAIGN ARCHIVES
Amazing Women -- IBS/Constipation
Since its launch in the fall of 2004, the Amazing Women campaign has used the news media to send more than 70 million messages that it is important and acceptable for women to talk about Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation, a condition that often goes undiagnosed for years because women are too embarrassed to talk abut their symptoms with their health care provider. Actress Cybill Shepard, who has IBS-C, and health care professionals, worked with the NWHRC to reach women with the message that it is important to talk about their symptoms to get a proper diagnosis and treatment for the condition.
The Amazing Women campaign materials included lifestyle tips, a diary to track symptoms, and tips for talking with your health care professional.
The campaign was supported by a grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
B.E.A.T. Campaign
"Boost Education about Arthritis Treatment," the B.E.A.T. Campaign, was a national initiative to raise awareness about treatment options and lifestyle considerations for women with arthritis. Donna Mills, Knots Landing actress, was the national spokesperson.
The campaign began with a satellite media tour. During 2002, Ms. Mills, medical experts, and an NWHRC spokesperson, hosted regional events throughout the country inviting consumers to learn more about arthritis and treatment options.
The campaign was supported by an educational grant from Pharmacia and Pfizer.
Cervical Cancer/STDs -- What Women Don't Know May Be Hurting Them
Joined by Mary Hunt, MD, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the New York University School of Medicine, the NWHRC informed the public about behaviors that may put women at increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Women were cautioned to take control of their sexual health, honestly assess risk factors and get screened for cervical cancer.
"What Women Don't Know May Be Hurting Them" was sponsored by a grant from Watson Pharmaceuticals.
COPD: The Unknown Killer
This campaign, launched in May of 2004, focused on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the fourth leading killer in the US.
As part of an effort to make women aware of a disease that now claims more women's lives than men's, the NWHRC commissioned a national online survey. Of those who responded nearly three-fourths did not identify COPD as one of the top five deadly diseases. More than half of Americans (51 percent) have never even heard of a disease that is expected to become the third leading cause of death in the United States by the year 2020.
Even though it is estimated that millions suffer from COPD, many may not be aware of the symptoms. More than half (51 percent) of smokers surveyed do not always volunteer to their doctor that they smoke, making diagnosis of the disease more difficult. In addition, only 16 percent of smokers put a high priority on seeking help for smoker's cough, a key symptom of COPD. In contrast, nearly 60 percent of smokers would be very likely to seek help for migraine headaches, a debilitating, but not life-threatening condition.
The survey was conducted online by Russell Marketing Research in March 2004. The survey was sponsored by the National Women's Health Resource Center, with support and assistance from GlaxoSmithKline.
Embrace Your Womanhood
One year after the federally-funded Women's Health Initiative questioned the safety of one form of postmenopausal hormone therapy, the NWHRC decided to take a close look at what women were thinking and doing about menopausal hormone therapy as a choice for dealing with the more troubling symptoms of menopause.
An online survey at www.healthywomen.org in the fall of 2003 found that almost 70 percent of women were confused about the safety of menopausal hormone therapy.
Dr. Alan Altman, Gynecologist, Menopause Specialist and Harvard Professor, Dr. Donnica Moore, a nationally recognized speaker and the women's health and medical expert on NBC's "Later Today Show" and "Weekend Today Show," along with consumer advocates advised women and their health care professionals to work together to develop individualized hormone therapy treatment plans, taking into account symptoms, medical history and available treatments.
"Managing Menopause - Weighing Your Options" is an online guide about taking charge of one's health during and after menopause developed as part of the campaign.
"Embrace Your Womanhood" was sponsored by an educational grant from Solvay Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Get a Grip on GERD!
Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a potentially serious medical condition affects more than 21 million Americans. The goal of this national initiative is OR WAS to raise awareness about GERD. The campaign encouraged consumers to learn more about what they can do to manage such GERD symptoms as persistent heartburn, and to talk with their health care professionals about lifestyle modifications, medications and surgical management.
As part of this educational initiative, the NWHRC hosted a "His Health" question-and-answer column at healthywomen.org. The column addressed important men's health issues, including chronic heartburn and GERD. Visitors to this site could submit their questions via email and search through an online archive of answered questions. Dr. J. Taylor Hays, was medical advisor to His Health. Dr. Hays is Chief of General Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Download a free copy of Fast Facts on GERD here.
This education initiative was supported by a grant from AstraZeneca.
Healthy U
The Uterine Health Campaign, or "Healthy U," is a national initiative to educate and encourage women to preserve the long term health of their uterus and to raise the public's awareness that there are alternatives to hysterectomy including less invasive treatment options. Former supermodel and successful businesswoman Beverly Johnson is the national spokesperson.
The campaign launched with a national satellite media tour and video news release including Beverly Johnson, and campaign medical spokesperson, Dr. Linda Bradley, Director of Hysteroscopic Services, Cleveland Clinic Foundation. During the campaign, Ms. Johnson and Dr. Bradley spoke to women about hysterectomy, one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States today.
Through media outreach, events, and other activities, women can receive a free booklet, "Your Guide to Uterine Health," by contacting the NWHRC toll free at 1-877-986-9472.
"Healthy U" is sponsored by an educational grant from GYNECARE, a division of Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company
I Have a Secret. I'm Ready to Tell -- Women Talk about SUI
Stress urinary incontinence is the most common form of urinary incontinence. Thirty million (1 in 3) American women over the age of 18 suffer from accidental leakages when they laugh, cough, sneeze, exercise or lift something.
In the fall of 2003 NWHRC gave women permission to talk about SUI. Through an online survey, NWHRC heard from hundreds of women about how they believed SUI to be the most under-reported "taboo" medical condition. More than half had never sought treatment or discussed their symptoms with a physician. Many have adopted their own coping strategies, creating further anxiety and strain on their lives and relationships.
The survey results were announced by NWHRC as part of an awareness-building event to support Bladder Health Week, in October, 2003, sponsored by the American Foundation for Urologic Disease (AFUD). Women's health reporters and editors from more than 30 news organizations heard Mary Jane Minkin, MD, Clinical Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, talk about the emerging science on SUI. Diane K. Newman, co-director of the PENN Center for Continence and Pelvic Health, explained how women can break down the barriers to talking about SUI with their health care providers.
A two-page, illustrated "Fast Facts about SUI," developed as part of this campaign, is available online at the NWHRC Web site.
The campaign was made possible by an educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Keep Your Inches (KIC) Campaign on Osteoporosis
Former Texas Governor Ann Richards teamed with the National Women's Health Resource Center to carry out the "Keep Your Inches Campaign" (KIC) to help women protect their bones. "Keep Your Inches" refers to the loss of height often associated with the disease.
The National Women's Health Resource Center commissioned a survey asking women about their information and attitudes about osteoporosis. The survey found that despite fears of breaking bones, developing a hunched back or losing mobility as a result of osteoporosis, almost three out of five women over age 40 (59 percent) have not asked their doctor about their bone health or had a bone mineral density (BMD) test.
Estimates are that 3,646,276 people heard, saw or read Governor Richards talking of her experience with osteoporosis.
The campaign included a KIC Checklist that can be downloaded from the NWHRC Web site. The checklist helps women assess their risk for osteoporosis and provides a list of questions to guide a discussion with their health care professional.
ICR/International Communications Research conducted a telephone omnibus survey of 1,008 American women ages 40 and older. The "Keep Your Inches Campaign" was developed in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company.
Last Acts Campaign
The Last Acts Campaign is a national coalition to improve care and caring at the end of life. The campaign's goals, and those of honorary chair Rosalynn Carter, are to bring end-of life issues out into the open and to help individuals and organizations search for better ways to care for the dying. Its major sponsor is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Making the Cramp Connection
"Making the Cramp Connection" was a national initiative to educate consumers about the link between menstrual cramps, chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis. The campaign encouraged women experiencing cramps/pelvic pain to talk with their health care professionals since both can be a sign of the serious condition, endometriosis.
Karen Duffy, Revlon model, served as the national spokesperson for the campaign in 2003.
The campaign is supported by an educational grant from Tap Pharmaceutical Products, Inc.
National Body Challenge
The NWHRC provides women's health content for the Women's Health Channel of DiscoveryHealth.com. It is also a national partner in the National Body Challenge, a twelve-week campaign to encourage the public to lose weight and get fit. NWHRC contribute lifestyle-related content to the Body Challenge's email newsletter and its more than 40,000 subscribers.
The National Body Challenge integrates Discovery Web site, retail outlets and cable television channels to provide multi-media support for participants. Altogether 325,000 people have registered at one of the more than 200 stores nationwide or online to use the diet and fitness program.
Other national partners are Bally's Total Fitness, FoodFit and the American Dietetic Association.
No More Compromises
The NWHRC developed this campaign to raise women's awareness about Over Active Bladder (OAB), to explore the lifestyle compromises women with OAB make in their professional and social lives and to give them the information they need to discuss treatments with their health care professional. OAB is a common medical problem suffered by millions of women.
As part of this campaign the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) and the National Association for Continence (NAFC) commissioned a national survey of more than 1,200 women between the ages of 40 and 65.
Health Experts William H. Parker, MD, Clinical Professor at UCLA School of Medicine, G. Willy Davila, MD, Chairman, Department of Gynecology at Cleveland Clinic and Diane Newman, R.N.C., Co-Director of the Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic Health, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center shared findings from this national survey at a New York media event. The survey results documented how millions of women compromise their lives and lifestyles due to overactive bladder. The health care professionals also encouraged women to no longer suffer in silence and to actively seek treatment.
"No More Compromises" was supported by a grant from Watson Pharmaceuticals.
Nurture Your Nature: Inspiring Women's Sexual Wellness
Male sex and sexuality education has seen a boost since the launch of erectile dysfunction medications, but reliable education about female sexuality--particularly for mid-life and older women--is still lacking.
In response to the gap in education about women's sexuality, the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) and the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) developed Nurture Your Nature: Inspiring Women's Sexual Wellness, a new initiative focusing on healthy female sexuality. Nurture Your Nature aims to help increase the meaningful and effective communication about sexuality between women and their health care professionals, as well as between women and their sexual partners.
The Nurture Your Nature program includes www.nurtureyournature.org, as well as other resources and publications including the April 2005 issue of the National Women's Health Report to help improve the interaction between women, their health care professional and their partner on the topic of female sexuality.
Publications produced by ARHP and NWHRC in conjunction with this project will address the need for information for both patients and providers on this topic. All publications, resources and events produced in conjunction with this project will be available through www.nurtureyournature.org, as well as on the Web sites of the ARHP and NWHRC.
ARHP and NWHRC share the common goals of educating professionals and the public about healthy sexuality and raising awareness about female sexuality in the U.S. Each organization has unique strengths and expertise to help women, their partners, and health care providers gain the information and education they need to help women understand, appreciate and enjoy their sexuality.
Partnership for Long-Term Health for Women
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are nearly 40 million women in the United States over the age of 50. These women are now living one-third of their lives after menopause. During those years, a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, osteoporosis, and diabetes increases significantly.
The Partnership for Long-Term Health for Women is the first national campaign to bring together women's, minority, health and aging groups to educate women about the health and disease risks they face after menopause. The campaign also works to motivate women to make informed decisions and to take positive measures to improve their health.
Funded through educational grants from the Lilly Centre for Women's Health, the Alliance for Aging Research, Hadassah, National Council of Women's Organizations, and the National Women's Health Resource Center, have organized the infrastructure for the initiative, disseminating information and marshaling a nationwide postmenopausal health education campaign, "Education and Action for a Healthy Tomorrow."
In 2003, the NWHRC published an electronic newsletter on women's health topics in the news for the members of the coalition. Publication was made possible by a grant from Eli Lilly and Company.
Perceptions about Depression
One in four women will suffer from depression at some point in their lives. Even though it is such a common condition, depression in women is misdiagnosed approximately 30 to 50 percent of the time
This campaign was developed to raise awareness about the prevalence of depression among women and to educate women about advances in treatment and available resources.
An online survey hosted at www.healthywomen.org explored women's attitudes toward depression. The survey found that misperceptions about depression are holding women back from acknowledging their condition and seeking proper treatment. The survey showed that although an overwhelming majority of women have been depressed or have known someone who has depression, nearly half of respondents will not visit their health care professional because they perceive depression as a weakness or personality flaw that does not demand medical attention.
NWHRC shared these findings with the public at a news event in New York. Miss New York State, Jessica Lynch, and other remarkable women, talked about their personal struggles with depression and encouraged others to explore the many treatment options now available.
At the event, Dr. Shelley Fox Aarons, Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and women's health expert Donnica Moore, MD discussed depression as a significant health risk for women at all life stages.
In November and December, 2003, NWHRC surveyed web site visitors again about depression, with a focus on the holidays, supposedly one of the happiest times of the year.
Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents reported suffering from depression during the holidays - to such an extent that they do not take part in the season's activities. The women reported not attending parties, decorating, shopping, or giving presents, due to their depression. They also reported overindulging in food and alcohol. In fact, the women surveyed said that stress and anxiety are the first terms that come to mind when thinking about the holiday season - not family, gifts, or holiday cheer.
Perceptions about Depression was made possible by an educational grant from Forest Pharmaceuticals.
Pharmacist Continuing Education Online
To help improve communication between women and their pharmacists, the NWHRC in 2001 launched an online Continuing Education Resource Center for these health care professionals. It was designed to educate pharmacists about issues in five specific areas of reproductive health: planning for pregnancy, pregnancy, infertility, menstrual disorders, and urinary tract infections.
NWHRC's Continuing Education Resource Center was developed in collaboration with the College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia. Accredited by this organization, pharmacists are eligible to receive as many as seven (7) credits for the modules, on average, nearly half of their annual requirement. Pharmacists also benefit by receiving online grading and certificates.
The Continuing Education Resource Center was made possible by an educational grant from Armkel/Church & Dwight.
Pick Your Path to Health
The Pick Your Path to Health campaign was launched immediately following Mother's Day 2000, as a way to suggest specific, life-oriented action steps to "ease the path to wellness." The program encourages health awareness among all women, with a special emphasis on the health disparities among women of different ethnic groups. The campaign reaches out specifically to African American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Hispanic American, and American Indian and Alaska Native women.
Information on the Pick Your Path to Health campaign is available from the sponsor, the Office of Women's Health and its Web site, www.4woman.gov.
Take 10 for Your Heart
Take 10 for Your Heart is a year-long public education campaign to help women everywhere improve their heart health with practical information, tips and tools to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.
Medical research shows that even a short ten minutes of healthful activity can have a long-term effect on your health. Lifestyle changes can make a difference in a woman's risk for heart disease. Take 10 for Your Heart shows how. The Take 10 for Your Heart kit has fact sheets, "Take 10" lists for healthy eating and exercise, guides to understanding why blood pressure and cholesterol are important, as well as lists of questions women can use during visits with their health care professionals.
Take Time to Care
Studies show that between 30 and 50 percent of Americans do not take their medication as directed. As a result, preventable medicine-related illnesses cost $76.6 billion dollars each year in doctor visits, unnecessary prescriptions, lost productivity and increased hospital and nursing home admissions.
The US Food and Drug Administration's Office of Women's Health is the sponsor of "Take Time to Care" nationwide education campaign. The safe use of medicines is particularly important for women since they use medications more frequently than men and are more likely to supervise medication use by family members, including children and elderly parents.
More than 80 non-profit and corporate supporters as well as 20,000 chain drug pharmacies are working together to provide women with critical information about how to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of taking both over-the-counter and prescription medicines. The partners distribute the "My Medicines" brochure, which contains four key messages: read the label, avoid problems, ask questions and keep a record.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.fda.gov.
Urinary Tract Infection: Understanding the Impact
This campaign has raised awareness about the causes and treatments of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), the second most common form of bacterial infection.
As part of "Understanding the Impact" the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) commissioned a national survey of 400 women who have experienced urinary tract infections (UTIs). This survey revealed numerous misconceptions about the risk factors and treatment options for UTI.
A forum on urinary tract infection was hosted by the NWHRC in January 2004. At the briefing were Dr. Richard Colgan, Medical Director, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore and Mary Kay Tucker, MSN, RN, FNP-C, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Representatives from nine of the country's leading professional and consumer women's health organizations were presented with relevant statistics and data illustrating the impact of urinary tract infections (UTI). The professional forum revealed numerous concepts for professional and patient education, as well as opportunities for future collaborations that will serve as a platform for continuing the dialogue on UTI as a women's health issue.
Information about UTIs, including facts to know, frequently asked questions and questions to ask your doctor, is available at the National Women's Health Resource Center Web site at www.healthywomen.org.
Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation sponsors the Understanding the Impact Campaign.
What Women Should Know about Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Fatigue
While lack of sleep and other lifestyle factors contribute to daytime sleepiness for many women, for others persistent sleepiness can be a symptom of diagnosable and treatable medical conditions.
The Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and Fatigue education initiative, launched in 2003 with a national consumer survey, educates consumers about EDS and fatigue. Both can significantly affect quality of life, safety and productivity.
The campaign helped women understand the signs and symptoms of EDS, so they do not dismiss their sleepiness and fatigue as an inevitable result of a hectic lifestyle. Click here for information on sleep disorders.
"Fast Facts: What Women Should Know about Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Fatigue" is online or call the NWHRC toll-free at 1-877-986-9472.
Health care professionals can obtain a free copy of "Fast Facts: Women and the Underlying Causes of Sleepiness and Fatigue," by calling the NWHRC toll-free at 1-877-986-9472.
The Women's Museum
The Women's Museum: An Institute for the Future is a unique national museum, established in association with the Smithsonian Institution, that opened to the public on September 29, 2000 in Dallas, Texas. The Museum celebrates the lives and accomplishments of American women over the last century, and highlights mind, body and spirit of the women who changed the future.
Six DVD-driven presentation stations showcase leading American health care professionals, researchers, advocates and survivors. Amy Niles, former President and CEO of the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC), is one of several women featured. The NWHRC also participated by providing women's health information to a key exhibit.
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