Continence Promotion Workshop – ICS 2006

1. Continence Promotion Workshop – ICS 2006 Current Consumer Outreach in New Zealand

2. National Public Awareness Campaign • Annual campaign with focused topic e.g. 2006 ‘Understanding Your Pelvic Floor’ launched in association with new CD by the same title • Initially branded ‘Dry Pants Day’ now known as ‘Life Without Limits – Continence Awareness Week’ • Held the first week of September every year. • Regular placement of continence editorial throughout the year through relationship with the newsprint media. They often approach us now for editorial. Advertise our helpline and web address alongside editorial

3. 0800 free phone helpline – post information with each enquiry and refer to the most appropriate service in their area • Website – (www.continence.org.nz). Regularly updated with information and list of continence service providers throughout the country. • Website also has a question forum where people send in a specific question relating to their problem. This is referred to a health professional in the required specialty who answers it. • We advertise the website and helpline no. in every editorial and website usage has increased while helpline has decreased as people seek information anonymously. They can also access a list of services.

4. Resources • 12 subjects of information in pamphlet form • 1 in 3 women’ booklet. (Originally copy courtesy of CFA) • Pelvic Floor CD • Continence Care Training Manual and CD

5. Public meetings Organized by; • continence staff in their area • special interest groups such as community groups, Parkinsons, Age Concern, Alzheimers, Arthritis etc • National awareness campaign events

6. Public Expos and shows • e.g. Parent and Child show (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch) • Healthy Ageing • Women’s Lifestyle Speak to many 100s over a 3 day event. Promote prevention, provide information, advice, inform on what services are available, advise them to seek professional help and referrals where appropriate.

7. Parent & Child Show – Auckland 2006

8. Minority Groups • Information handouts available in Maori, Samoan, Chinese and Korean • Several years ago we worked with a Northland group of Maori and trained their lay health workers and provided basic teaching resources developed in association with them. They found useful and successful but has not developed further or expanded due to the death of the initial organizer. Others promised to continue but it didn’t eventuate.

9. Future Initiatives to Maori and Pacific Island groups • It has been an ongoing problem for all organizations trying to work with minority groups. After discussion with the Ministry of Health I have written to a number of minority groups who currently receive funding for education with the plan to tap into their education sessions and add continence as an additional subject.

10. Other Health Professional Groups • We have just completed an educational programme ‘Continence Care Training Programme’ that covers six subjects of continence and is targeted at the primary care market. There has been huge interest from the residential care sector and the Pharmacy Guild to use it in training staff within their own facility. Each session takes 30-40 minutes and includes a power point. • Bi-annual national conference with regional education training programme alternative years.

11. Other Key Factors to Successful Promotion • Executive board members who are supportive and available when required. • Members who will assist with awareness activities • Good relationship with media, sponsors, companies etc. • Appropriate funding for the chief executive officer to co-ordinate the operation of the organization and keep it funded and functioning efficiently without reliance on volunteers