Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112428

Susan V.L. Russell, MSA, Office on Women's Health, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 719E, Washington, DC 20201, 202-690-5414, srussell@osophs.dhhs.gov

Model program for a lupus intervention

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects approximately 1.4 million Americans, primarily women during their formative years of learning, social and career development, and childbearing years. Lupus is a disease that is often misdiagnosed, because it imitates the symptoms of other diseases, or because of physicians lack of awareness of Lupus and its symptoms. Lupus is a killer disease.

The Office on Women's Health has partnered with several private and public organizations to educate and to bring awareness to consumers and the medical community about Lupus. The awareness campaign has been national in scope, and the impact on the participants and the co-sponsoring organizations have resulted in Lupus patients feeling less frustrated with their medical condition, and these patients being better prepared to take information to primary care givers in their search for medical assistance.

Topics to be presented include the following:

1)Challenges organizations have overcome in developing relationships with communities of color to deliver a message regarding Lupus.

2)Including a social services expert at educational awareness sessions to provide information on how to maneuver within the social services system.

3)Including a legal expert to provide assistance to the targeted group in developing a dialogue with their primary care team that will enhance their opportunities to get the necessary medical attention. Also, the legal expert can give advise on the benefits under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Learning Objectives:

• The different approaches used by individual partners to reach and to teach patients, medical personnel and the community about lupus.
• Increased awareness of the importance of collaborating with community leaders, public and private organizations in the development of an education/awareness program.
• The importance of cultural sensitivity in implementing an intervention within a specific community group.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation