Reach Patients through The Hormone Foundation’s Innovative Programs
The Hormone Foundation, the patient and public education affiliate of The Endocrine Society, has had a busy year implementing a series of large programs and developing new ones designed to reach patients and support physicians in practice:
Diabetes Caregiver Central
The Foundation recently conducted a national study of unpaid diabetes caregiver s to learn more about their experiences and unmet needs as they care for loved ones with diabetes. The study included three focus groups and a national online survey.
Specific survey results include:
- More than half of respondents (54 percent) struggle with diet-related issues like cooking, meal planning and non-compliance
- Nearly half of respondents (49 percent) reported challenges with medical management of diabetes; and
- Twelve percent of respondents reported their own stress and emotional health as a significant concern.
Data from the survey will be used to develop the content for Diabetes Caregiver Central (DCC), a comprehensive Website dedicated to those providing care to people with diabetes. Diabetes Caregiver Central will provide caregivers with specialized and targeted materials to help them improve diabetes management and prevent serious complications in the people they care for. There are many ways to help support Diabetes Caregiver Central. Contact Amy Woodward at awoodward@endo-society.org or 301-951-2619 for more information.
Bilingual Fact Sheets & Patient Guides
The Foundation’s award-winning Hormones & You series of bilingual fact sheets educates patients and the general public about hormone-related conditions and endocrine system diseases. Fact sheets are posted on the Foundation’s website and published in JCEM and Endocrine News. They are also distributed at professional meetings and, with commercial support, mailed in pads of 50 to physicians for distribution to patients at their offices. The Foundation published nine new fact sheets in 2009:
A new fact sheet has been developed called Klinefelter syndrome. In 2010, the Foundation will continue to build on its extensive collection of bilingual fact sheets. Topics for 2010 include:
- adrenal insufficiency
- primary hyperparathyroidism
- continuous glucose monitoring
- breast cancer medications and bone loss
- premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder
The Foundation has also published two new patient guides which were developed in conjunction with the Society’s Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs):
Upcoming patient guide topics include post-bariatric surgery management, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and continuous glucose monitoring.
The fact sheets and patient guides are available for distribution to physicians in pads of 50 via mail, in conjunction with a CME Symposia, or from your booth at ENDO. If you are interested in supporting a patient education fact sheet or a patient guide, please contact Amy Woodward at awoodward@endo-society.org or 301-951-2619.
Online Health Fair
The Hormone Foundation is currently developing a virtual health fair which will deliver information to patients on a variety of hormone-related conditions. The online health fair will include educational events featuring experts (e.g., Webcasts, chats, videos), an exhibit-like area with virtual “booths,” downloadable materials (e.g., fact sheets, FAQs, brochures) and an advice blog from patient advocates. The Online Health Fair offers many sponsorship and advertising opportunities. For more information please contact Amy Woodward at awoodward@endo-society.org or 301-951-2619.
Fertility and Cancer Program
The Foundation is partnering with the Oncofertility Consortium at Northwestern University to create a program that will increase awareness about fertility and cancer. The program will include the development and distribution of fact sheets on fertility preservation for men, women and children undergoing cancer treatment, as well as information on the management of symptoms and risks associated with the hormonal imbalances that can result from cancer treatment. The program will also include a national public awareness campaign. You can support this program through the distribution of the associated fact sheets. For more information contact Amy Woodward at awoodward@endo-society.org or 301-951-2619.
