Atrial Fibrillation + Venous Thromboembolism and Anticoagulants
The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is rolling out a new awareness campaign focused on the importance of adherence among people who are prescribed oral anticoagulants or blood thinners to help prevent potentially life threatening blood clots associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE).
To coincide with Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month in September, NBCA distributed an audio news release and a syndicated mat release both focused on the importance of adherence to anticoagulation therapy prescribed to prevent blood clots than can lead to a stroke among people affected by AF. The AF audio news release will air on the nationally syndicated Radio Health Journal broadcast, carried by hundreds of radio stations nationwide, the week of September 23. The AF mat release, Irregular Heartbeat: Your Medicine Matters, was distributed in mid-September and will be picked up by hundreds of syndicate subscribing newspapers over the next several months.
NBCA will distribute a second audio news release and mat release in October 2013, focused on the importance of adherence to anticoagulation therapy prescribed to prevent or treat blood clots in people affected by VTE. The VTE audio news release will air the week of October 20, and again on the nationally syndicated Radio Health Journal broadcast. The VTE mat release, Stop Blood Clots Before They Stop You, will be distributed in mid-October, and again appear in hundreds of syndicate subscribing newspapers in ensuing months.
NBCA Website Will Add New Educational Materials About Adherence
In addition, NBCA will be placing stories that provide a patient’s perspective about anticoagulation use and adherence on its website. One story will reflect the personal perspectives of a patient affected by AF and the other will reflect the personal story of a patient affected by VTE.
Similarly, NBCA also has prepared At-A-Glance fact sheets relative to the importance of adherence with the use of anticoagulation therapy. The AF and VTE At-A-Glance fact sheets will be added to NBCA’s At-A-Glance series of informational documents on the organization’s website.
The centerpiece of NBCA’s overall adherence program occurred last May, when NBCA convened a panel of experts to address the topic of adherence in oral anticoagulant use. The proceedings of this symposium, Effective AC Management: Focus on Promoting and Simplifying Adherence, also will appear on NBCA’s website, with both print and videotaped presentations available.
