"MOVE" CAMPAIGN
by Sam, Lindsey, Jo, Amanda and Keri
(Bournemouth University)
“MOVE” CAMPAIGN
We are a group of 3rd year nursing and midwifery degree students currently studying at Bournemouth University in Dorset. As part of our professional programme, we have been asked to undertake an inter-professional project to help raise awareness of a current health issue. After seeing the recent hard work of David Staniforth on the ‘Take Time Out’ Project, the group decided to would be fantastic if we could help promote his cause within the Wiltshire and Dorset area by raising awareness of DVT’s amongst teenagers and young people.
Research suggests that each year tens of thousands of people in the UK die from DVT’s, more than the number of deaths that are attributable to breast cancer, AIDS and road traffic accidents combined. The sudden killer is pulmonary embolism; a blood clot that forms in the lower limbs which comes loose and is transported by the blood to lodge in the lungs. DVT is in itself, a cause of substantial morbidity. Add this to the many deaths and it becomes a massive problem. The condition affects people of any age and numbers are rising amongst teenagers and young adults.
Currently, few empirical studies have been conducted regarding the relationship between DVT’s and young people. While we recognise that many factors may influence the risk of developing a DVT, the key trigger for our campaign is the increasing amount of time that teenagers are engaged in sedentary activities, which increases the risk of developing a DVT.
The “Move” campaign is a public health promotion exercise aimed at children aged 11 to 14 years. We intend to do this by highlighting to teenagers and their parents, what they can do to help prevent a DVT from developing; breaking the myth that thrombosis is only a condition that affects adults or that you are only likely to suffer from blood clots after long haul flights.
Thanks to David’s kindness, we are able to offer a child friendly poster and information leaflet for people like yourselves to print off so you too can empower your teenager to get up and “MOVE”.
Sam, Keri, Jo, Lindsey and Amanda