A Healthy Guide for Every Woman
Thursday August 1, 2002
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AWHONN chose to partner with Profile Pursuit Inc., a publisher that had done a similar type of book in England. Every Woman was introduced in July 2000, and since that first edition, AWHONN has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from healthcare providers and readers.
Its growing popularity is not surprising to Henrikson. Surveys done by AWHONN indicate that nurses have a strong impact on patient decision-making. And, according to a recent Gallup poll, 84% of Americans rate nurses and the nursing profession as trustworthy. Until this year, nurses ranked first, but since the September 11th tragedies, firefighters moved into first place, with nurses now second.
Henrikson also says it is estimated that women make 75% of all healthcare decisions for their families, so it is important that they have the information needed to make smart choices. Each year's edition of Every Woman includes the latest in research and clinical applications about the key health topics affecting women, including breast health, bone mass, cardio strength, cancer, stress management, and skin care.
Third Time Still a Charm
Although planning a publication that addresses every aspect of women's health may seem like a daunting task, AWHONN members are taking it in stride. "The editorial board gets together to brainstorm and determine what issues we need to include, and we have our members write on topics covered within their scope of practice," Henrikson says.
With the third annual edition slated for distribution in September 2002, veteran Every Woman writers can choose a new topic or update their articles from the previous year. Joan Edwards, RNC, MN, CNS, member of the AWHONN advisory board and director of the women's health program at Kingwood Medical center in Kingwood, TX, a suburb of Houston, opted to stay with her original topics, skin and breast health. "For the breast health article, some data does not change," Edwards says. "But I will add new facts and write a new introduction."
Edwards says Every Woman is especially unique because all its information is practical. "In addition to including all three parts of a full breast exam, I also include information that many women do not get elsewhere," she says. "[That includes] information such as 70% of breast cancers are located in the upper outer quadrant and near the nipple. This encourages women to be especially mindful of these areas." Edwards also explains in her article why perfume, powder, and deodorant interfere with a mammogram.
There are approximately 24 articles in each edition, all of which are written by nurses, either by AWHONN members or with another nurse in collaboration. Funding for this free publication comes solely through the book's advertisers. "All our advertisers are associated with healthcare products, and vendors have shown great interest in being in the guide because of the quality of the publication," Henrikson says.
A Healthy Future
In 2001, Every Woman, which is distributed only by nurses, went to more than 1,000 hospitals, offices, and clinics - virtually every type of healthcare setting in every state in the country. "In 2002, we'll raise the number of issues printed from 500,000 to 1 million, and we'll increase the number of sites to 1,500," Henrikson says. And as AWHONN finishes the 2002 edition, the organization is already planning for future editions. "One of the truly exciting plans for the future is that we are developing a Spanish version, one that will be culturally sensitive," Henrikson says.
As an organization, AWHONN is committed to providing nurses the information to empower women with the knowledge needed for all aspects of their health. "Our goal was to provide an easy resource for women about the issues they are facing," Edwards says. "And this guide will help them to be able to wisely ask questions, know their options, and make decisions. It also offers the resources needed to get answers."
To get a copy of Every Woman: The Essential Guide for Healthy Living, contact AWHONN at (202) 261-2422 or
e-mail Stacy Stover at stacys@awhonn.org.
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