The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) has designated September as Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month. During this global month-long awareness campaign, the PFF has provided resources to help you educate your patients about this rare disease.

Resources to help you promote Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, such as a planning toolkit as well as social media campaign items, can be found on the PFF website. The PFF also suggests hosting a table at a local farmer’s market or organizing an educational event as ideas to help spread the word about pulmonary fibrosis.

According to the PFF Information Guide, one in 200 adults over 65 years of age are affected by IPF in the United States. In fact, 200,000 individuals are currently living with IPF. And 50,000 new cases of IPF are diagnosed each year.

Get Prepared for PF

Shawna Strickland, PhD, CAE, RRT, FAARC, AARC associate executive director of member services says the AARC has several resources that can help RTs become better prepared to assist patients with chronic lung disease like PF.

“AARC educational courses like the Pulmonary Disease Educator Course can help the RT focus their involvement with patients diagnosed with PF on activities and interventions that are evidence-based and proven for effective self-management,” she said. “Other AARC resources — like the Clinician’s Guide for Treating Tobacco Dependency and the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certificate Course — are targeted for specific interventions that can improve the quality of life for patients with PF.”

PF is a devastating disease with a poor prognosis for most people. Respiratory therapists are the perfect clinicians to take the lead in helping these patients cope with the condition as best they can and make the most out of the life they have left to live.

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