National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute COPD Learn More Breathe Better^® Subcontractor Success

In October 2009, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded several community-based organizations with subcontract funding to help its COPD Learn More Breathe Better^® campaign raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of $462,000 was awarded to support COPD awareness programming and network building across the United States.

Subcontracts allowed organizations to undertake a variety of COPD outreach and education initiatives in support of the campaign and its goals. These activities ranged from forming COPD coalitions and task forces, to convening state-wide summits, to conducting education programming and public outreach events for populations at risk for COPD, patients and health care providers.

In just one year subcontractors:

• Convened a total of nine state COPD summits in Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah
• Developed a total of five state COPD action plans as a result of the summits in Iowa, Missouri, New York, North Dakota and South Dakota
• Conducted 188 COPD education events, 32 of which were National COPD Awareness Month events
• Provided spirometry for more than 2,700 people and screened 6,929 people via a paper screener at COPD education events
• Secured media coverage which yielded at least 5,974,432 media impressions for the campaign

A lasting by-product of the subcontracts is the addition of several new members to the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign's Breathe Better Network.

The Network is proud to welcome eight new members from the Year 1 subcontract class:

Please join the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign in congratulating all the subcontractors and thanking them for helping their communities to better understand the signs and symptoms of COPD, and the importance of talking to their doctor or health care provider.

^ top

COPD Learn More Breathe Better Widget

The COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign recently launched a campaign widget to help continue conversations about the symptoms of COPD and assist you in your own outreach efforts.

Similar to the look and feel of the new PSAs, the widget takes you through the most common signs and symptoms of COPD and encourages those who may be exhibiting these symptoms to talk to a doctor or health care provider. The widget includes audio for coughing, wheezing and hacking, helping those who may be at risk for COPD and their loved ones to recognize what may be the signs of a serious lung disease, COPD.

The campaign encourages Breathe Better Network members and all those who want to increase the dialogue on COPD symptoms to share the widget via their online networks. Partners can share the widget by embedding it on their Web site or sharing the link via email, Facebook page and Twitter. To view instructions on how to add and share the widget, click here. To share via email, Facebook and Twitter, visit the Facebook page and click on Get Widget.

^ top

American Lung Association's Healthy Lung Expo

American Lung Association's Healthy Lung Expo, Chicago, IL

The American Lung Association in Greater Chicago hosted, free of charge, an opportunity for patient to learn about COPD in an educational and welcoming environment. The Healthy Lung Expo was held on March 15, 2011, and treated 325 participants (patients, caregivers, health care providers, vendors and volunteers) to a relaxing day filled with inspirational messages, educational lectures, exhibits and a free luncheon.

Lecture topics for patients and care givers included:

• Managing Your Overall Health: How it Affects The Course of Lung Disease
• Nutritional Guidelines for People with Lung Disease
• The Future of COPD
• COPD Action Plan: Understanding Your Baseline And How to Avoid and Manage Exacerbations
• You're On Oxygen — Now What? — Practical Knowledge and Tips
• The Healing Power of Laughter

Health care providers also had the opportunity to attend their own lung health sessions for a $125 fee to learn from and network with some of the field's top medical professionals. Continuing education credits were offered to attending health care providers as well.

The Healthy Lung Expo was held at the UIC Forum in downtown Chicago, and also offered a track for lung cancer patients to learn about their disease.

The Lung Association will be holding another Healthy Lung Expo in Indianapolis, IN on April 29th. Please visit www.lungin.org for more information.

^ top

Breathe Better Network Update

In October 2009, the COPD Learn More Breathe Better^® campaign formalized its partnership network and launched the Breathe Better Network. Since then, Network members have been steadily at work spreading awareness about COPD and in doing so have expanded the campaign's reach. The Network continues to see growth and the campaign is proud to announce the addition of eleven new organizations to its ranks. Below is an introduction to each:

Breathe Better Network Leadership Members

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to collaborate to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health — through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats. The CDC has long provided and promoted COPD information on its Web site and most recently contributed to the COPD community by adding COPD focused questions to its annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Also, the CDC has extended its efforts in the COPD arena by entering into a partnership with the COPD Learn More Breathe Better^® campaign. This includes featuring campaign specific information on its Web site as well as working to help those at risk understand the symptoms of the disease and convey campaign messages that with early diagnosis and treatment those with COPD can breathe better.

Breathe Better Network Core Members

American Lung Association in Iowa
The American Lung Association in Iowa utilized subcontract funding over the past year from the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign to launch its COPD coalition and hold a COPD summit. With that funding it was also able to develop relationships with key contacts for the COPD coalition and create a five-year state COPD action plan.

American Lung Association in New Mexico
The American Lung Association in New Mexico utilized subcontract funding over the past year from the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign to host a state COPD summit and develop a state COPD action plan.

American Lung Association in New York
The American Lung Association in New York utilized subcontract funding over the past year from the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign to host a state COPD summit and develop a state COPD action plan.

American Lung Association in North Dakota
The American Lung Association in North Dakota utilized subcontract funding over the past year from the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign to host a state COPD summit and develop a state COPD action plan.

American Lung Association in South Dakota
The American Lung Association in South Dakota utilized subcontract funding over the past year from the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign to host a state COPD summit and develop a state COPD action plan.

American Lung Association in Utah
The American Lung Association in Utah utilized subcontract funding over the past year from the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign to host a state COPD summit and begin developing a state COPD action plan.

American Lung Association of the Plains-Gulf Region
The American Lung Association of the Plains-Gulf Region utilized subcontract funding over the past year from the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign to host a state COPD summit and develop a state COPD action plan.

Love Your Lungs, Breathe For Life
This site provides information on disease symptoms; risk factors and daily quality of life care for all types of lung diseases, including COPD, that may affect anyone.

Oklahoma Rehab Services, Inc.
Oklahoma Rehab Services, Inc. provides individual, comprehensive treatment for people with chronic lung disease. In addition, its staff regularly travels across the state to conduct spirometry screening for those at risk for COPD.

Virginia Association of Health Plans
The Virginia Association of Health Plans (VAHP) utilized subcontract funding over the past year from the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign to conduct outreach to health care providers via a comprehensive COPD education program. This program included training providers on how to conduct a spirometry test and how to incorporate it into their practice. VAHP also advocates for health plans by promoting affordable access to high quality health care for all Virginians.

Please join the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign in welcoming these new Breathe Better Network members! If you know of a group or organization that might be a strong addition to the Network, please let us know.

^ top

Email Updates from the NHLBI

The NHLBI now offers free email alerts about the latest Institute news and updates. Subscribe to any of the areas below for timely, relevant information delivered straight to your inbox. To subscribe, all you need is a valid email address. Your email will only be used to deliver the requested information or to give you access to your subscription preferences. To view a full list of topics available through this subscription service, please visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/new/emailupdates/main.htm.

^ top