Online Program

291469
Using data to drive policy change in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 3:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.

Jamie Sullivan, MPH, Public Policy and Outcomes, COPD Foundation, Washington, DC
In the U.S. about one in 15 adults has a COPD diagnosis and one individual dies every four minutes. Worldwide, COPD mortality is expected to increase more than 30% over 10 years. Unfortunately, this incurable but treatable disease doesn't receive the attention and resources it should, in part because state and priority population-specific data has not been available. A core question on COPD was included in the 2011 BRFSS. 21 states added an optional module about diagnosis, utilization and quality of life.The data, published in a 2012 MMWR, confirmed that COPD's impact is severe, but not uniform. The data provides information that will create policy changes necessary to develop a global, national and state-based infrastructure for COPD. Key trends include; high geographic variations, disparate impact among women and low-income populations, proof of impact in the working-age population, dispelling perceptions that COPD is an elderly disease, and impact in never or former smoker populations. The data confirms long held beliefs that COPD is an emerging public health crisis and provides specific data required to gain the understanding and commitment of policymakers. COPD is a systemic problem requiring a coordinated and comprehensive solution. Currently no COPD programs exist at CDC or state health departments. A fellow is conducting a state-activity assessment and combined with the data, targeted policy change campaigns can produce the will to integrate COPD into awareness, early diagnosis and education programs that have lead to significant improvements in impact from other common chronic diseases.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the current lack of public health infrastructure for COPD prevention, education and management. Discuss past public health advocacy efforts to drive policy change in COPD. Evaluate how the release of the first ever BRFSS data on COPD can be used to support the need for policy change that would create a national public health response to COPD.

Keyword(s): Chronic Diseases, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have directed policy and public health programs for a national non profit organization for 3 years. My scientific areas of interest include analyzing data and creating the rationale to drive policy change necessary for building a chronic disease focused public health infrastructure around an emerging disease crisis like COPD.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.