Options for delivering prevention and awareness information about venous
thrombosis to an older audience can include:
All these venues have advantages. Let's look at each.
Presentations
With a complicated topic like DVT, where the condition often is new to
the public and sometimes a bit difficult to grasp, consider an hour-long
forum for small groups. An ideal format might feature the following as
speakers: healthcare providers, people with DVT telling their stories,
and other knowledgeable speakers from the community. You can organize
small group presentations of up to 30 people in places where older
adults naturally congregate or go for information and services - senior
centers, congregate meal programs, senior housing, medical offices,
houses of worship, clinics and community centers.
Handouts
Handouts are most effective when used with another communication
strategy like a presentation or a support group. Brochures and handouts
can be displayed with other health information in venues like a health
fair, which can give some visibility. Unfortunately, the message could
get lost among the volumes of information about cholesterol, blood
pressure, healthy weight and nutrition. If you have limited resources,
choose the most effective means to distribute your handouts or
brochures. Consider the occasions when people are most focused or
interested in their health, when written materials supplement or clarify
discussions, or when you might have center stage to feature the topic.
Public Service Announcements and Newspaper Articles
Public service announcements (PSAs) and articles are communication methods best used when tied with other activities in the community, such as a newspaper feature that highlights a presentation, a national kickoff campaign, an open house or a screening for venous disease and/or contributing factors that are commonly associated with DVT. PSAs and articles can effectively drive readers to a website that then provides more detailed information about DVT and links to national and local services. The focus of PSAs or articles should be to encourage listeners/readers to take action in three (two) ways:
- By gaining a greater understanding of the factors that can prompt the development of a DVT
- By becoming more informed and able to identify early signs of DVT
- By participating in physical activity, eating well, managing their medications, visiting their doctor, or engaging in other preventive measures
Websites
Websites can provide as much depth about DVT as the reader desires. Home
pages can link the Internet user to summaries or to detailed research
pages. The goal of your site is to clearly tell the reader what each
click will provide and give the reader a means to return to the
navigation available on the home page.
Support Groups
People who have experienced a DVT have had a life-changing event. From
medications to meals and from inactivity to conscious movement and
exercise, adults must consider how best to incorporate these changes
into their lives. Support and assistance in accessing the needed care
and services is an essential part of a successful path to healthy
living. Support groups offer a place to share challenges, work on
solutions, receive information and feel encouraged.
