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Your Hospital Hospitions is enclosed...
AMERICAN AME BAXTER BA+ HABITS 4 ANURGY P THE HEALTH OF
Kit
Vernon R. Loucks Jr.
Baxter International Inc.
708.948.3600
Chairman and
One Baxter Parkway
Chief Executive Officer
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
Baxter
February 25, 1993
Dear Colleague:
Here is your kit of communications materials for the
Baxter Survey of American Health Habits. I very much
hope you find them helpful. The various items are
designed to be put into use quickly and conveniently.
As you know, our nationwide release for the survey
results is March 11. We will be holding a news
conference in Washington on that day. We will give
the survey findings to the national media at that time.
Even more important, we're going to be able to report
that about 1,600 hospitals nationwide are carrying the
survey results to their own communities on that day.
The point, of course, is that we as a nation need
to safeguard good health--and hospitals are helping in
significant ways. I hope you agree that this is both
an important and a newsworthy message.
Please don't release the data until March 11.
Again, thanks for your interest. Thanks also for your
efforts in this very important part of health care.
Sincerely,
P.S. We'd enjoy hearing about your experiences with this
program.
Suggestions for Using This Kit
The 1992 Baxter Survey of American Health Habits, a report card on the nation's
health, provides an opportunity for your hospital to underscore its role as a
community leader in health-education and health-promotion. Enclosed in this kit are
several items -- a survey booklet, sample news release, letter-to-the-editor and
newsletter article -- to help you send to your community a vital message about the
importance of safeguarding our good health. Here are some suggestions on how to
use these materials:
Survey Booklet. Imprint your hospital logo on the front of the Baxter Survey of
American Health Habits reproducible booklet and distribute copies to the media
with the enclosed news release customized for your community. Consider
distributing the booklet, provided here in a form for quick reproduction, to
selected community leaders and groups via direct mail. Also consider adding
your hospital's logo to selected camera-ready graphics in the booklet depicting
survey highlights and submit with the sample news release to local media.
News Release. Customize the news release to describe the programs your
hospital has planned for the community and distribute it to local media. Identify
a hospital executive, perhaps your chief of medical staff or chief executive
officer, to serve as an expert spokesperson on good health habits and
preventative health care.
Sample Letter-to-the-Editor. Adapt the sample letter-to-the-editor for signature
by your hospital's chief executive officer and send to local daily and/or
suburban newspapers.
Sample Newsletter Article. Run the sample newsletter article on the survey
results in your community wellness newsletter and/or your employee
newsletter. Highlight the programs your hospital is offering to promote good
health habits.
Other Activities to Consider:
News Conference. Hold a news conference in your community to announce the
survey results, using spokesperson(s) from your hospital and other local
hospitals and health organizations (if appropriate).
Interviews. Work with local radio and television stations to arrange interviews
with your designated hospital expert on preventative health care and highlight
how your hospital is working to help the community "stay healthy."
Fact Sheets. Create a series of fact sheets from the survey results, with each fact
sheet focusing on an area of the survey, and forward these sheets to the media
with a customized news release.
Topic-Specific News Releases. Select one of the survey topics, such as smoking
habits, and write a news release to spotlight your hospital's existing wellness
program.
As you know, Baxter International is planning a national news conference on
March 11 in Washington, D.C., to announce to the national media the results of the
survey and how hospitals are working to help their communities. To ensure the
strongest results, it's very important that the survey results not be released in your
community until this date.
###
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
What are
we doing to protect
our health?
How
healthy are
we?
THE 1992 BAXTER SURVEY OF AMERICAN HEALTH HABITS
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
What are
we doing to protect
our health?
How
healthy are
we?
THE 1992 BAXTER SURVEY
OF AMERICAN HEALTH HABITS
Sample
News
Release
Contact: (Hospital name, telephone number)
Americans' Health Habits Turn For Worse:
Weight Up; Nutrition, Exercise Down, Survey Says
(Hospital name) Plans (health program descriptions)
(Hospital city, State), March 11, 1993 -- At a time when the nation can least
afford it, Americans are slipping in several important health habits, according to a
new nationwide survey released by (Hospital name). And because the cost of
preventing illness is much less than the cost of treating it, (Hospital name) is
working in several ways to promote good health, including (describe programs).
During 1992, Americans gained weight, ate less carefully than in 1991, and
exercised no more than they did a decade ago, according to the 1992 Baxter
Survey of American Health Habits, conducted by Louis Harris and Associates,
who have been tracking health habits for 10 years. The new survey is sponsored
by Baxter International, working in partnership with hospitals nationwide.
Baxter is the world's leading marketer of health-care products, systems and
services.
The most significant improvements made recently in health behavior across
the nation are in areas such as seatbelt use and the use of smoke detectors, where
good habits are required by law, the survey reports. When it comes to voluntary
health habits, the nation is at best holding the line, and at worst slipping from
gains made in the early- to mid-1980s.
"The survey is a worrisome sign that we're becoming careless about
preventative health care," said (Hospital executive). "This is disturbing because if
we don't take steps to protect ourselves, we sacrifice what is probably our single
best opportunity to contain health-care costs. That's why we are working to make
sure this essential information about health behavior and risk reaches our
community."
-more-
Health Habits Survey/Page 2
Among the programs (Hospital name) is offering to address these issues are
(describe programs planned for the community).
"There's much that's good, but also much that needs fixing in our nation's
health system," said Vernon R. Loucks Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of
Baxter, headquartered in Deerfield, Ill. "But it all starts at home. We must not
waste the good health that has been given to us in the first place."
More than 1,500 hospitals across the United States are working in various
ways to carry these survey results today to their communities. Some are holding
community meetings. Others have undertaken local media campaigns.
Bad News; Good News
The Baxter Survey examines behaviors in important areas of preventative
health care. Among its findings: (Select some or all statistics from the following
which are most applicable to your community.)
Exercise. Only 33 percent of Americans now get strenuous exercise three
times a week or more, down four percentage points from 1991.
Weight. Sixty-six percent of Americans are overweight -- up from
63 percent in 1991, and 58 percent in 1983.
Eating Patterns. Only 44 percent of Americans try hard to avoid
cholesterol, and only 51 percent try hard to avoid fat. Both figures are
down six percentage points from 1991. The proportion of Americans
trying hard to eat enough fiber is down six points from 1983. The
proportion trying hard to avoid too much sodium is down seven points
from 1983.
Smoking. Good news: Seventy-six percent of Americans are
nonsmokers -- an all-time high.
Drinking. Eighty-eight percent of Americans drink moderately or not at
all; fully 40 percent say they never drink alcohol, an increase of six
percentage points over 1983. Forty-eight percent say that on a day when
they drink, they have no more than three drinks. That's down from 53
percent in 1983, and down slightly from last year.
-more-
Health Habits Survey/Page 3
Key findings (continued)
Drug Use. Ninety-five percent of Americans say they never use illegal
drugs. Only one percent say that at present they use illegal drugs
frequently.
Stress. Twenty-eight percent of Americans say they feel under great
stress at least several days a week. And only 58 percent say they get
seven to eight hours of sleep a night, down from 64 percent in 1983.
Over the past decade, stress levels have risen constantly for those aged
18 to 49, and held steady for those 50 and over.
Seatbelt Use and Driving Habits. Seatbelt use has risen dramatically.
Seventy percent of Americans say they use seatbelts at all times when in
the front seat of a car, up from 19 percent in 1983. Only 17 percent say
they drive after drinking, down from 30 percent in 1983. But only
49 percent say they obey the speed limit all the time. This represents a
seven-point drop from 1983.
Checkups. Americans are eager to have their health evaluated in a
professional setting. Eighty-four percent have at least annual blood
pressure screenings. And although only 44 percent of Americans try
hard to avoid cholesterol, 56 percent have their cholesterol level
measured at least once a year.
Women's Health. Women are conscientious about health screening.
Eighty percent of women report having a Pap smear at least every other
year, which is up from 75 percent in 1983. Forty-nine percent of women
say they examine their breasts for signs of cancer at least once each
month -- up 12 percent from 1983. But only 40 percent of women over 65
examine their breasts -- cause for concern, since the risk of breast cancer
increases with age.
Forty-four percent of women overall have a mammogram at least every
other year. For women aged 40 and over -- the group for which
mammography is recommended -- roughly two-thirds report having the
test at least every other year, which means one-third of all American
women in the same age group are not being screened as often as they
should be.
AIDS, Other Serious Illnesses. Two-thirds of Americans say they are
taking steps to avoid getting AIDS, although only one-fifth say they
worry that they are personally at risk of getting it. Overall, Americans
seem ready to take steps to reduce their risk of getting a serious disease
even if they don't feel they're personally at risk. While fewer than
one-third worry about hypertension and heart disease, over half take
steps to avoid them.
Health Attitudes. Americans want to change their health behavior.
Seven of 10 smokers say they want to quit smoking. More than four in
10 Americans say they want to learn more about good nutrition, and the
same number say they would like to lose weight. Over half of those who
say they do not exercise regularly want to start.
-more-
Health Habits Survey/Page 4
Key findings (continued)
Motivation to Change. Most of those surveyed (45 percent) say their
strongest motivation to adopt healthier habits is "to be healthier while
alive. One-third say that their strongest motivation is "to feel good
about [themselves] today." Only one-fifth say their strongest motivation
is "to live longer."
Fifty-seven percent of Americans think that those with unhealthy habits
should pay more for their health insurance. Fifty-one percent think the
same people should pay a greater share of their medical bills.
Sixty-six percent think higher insurance premiums would be at least
somewhat effective in getting those with unhealthy habits to adopt
better health habits. Thirty-three percent think higher premiums would
be very effective.
Thirty percent of smokers say they would be very likely to quit, and 27
percent say they would be somewhat likely to quit, if they were required
to pay significantly more for health insurance.
An overwhelming majority of Americans (more than 80 percent) think it
is "very important" or "absolutely essential" that health insurance pay for
preventative services for children, such as prenatal care, immunizations
and boosters, and checkups; and for women's health screening,
including Pap smears, breast exams and mammograms. Seventy-nine
percent think that health insurance should pay for general physical
examinations.
Physicians, Hospitals Seen As Resources
Overall, people who want to change their health habits say they are most
interested in advice and counseling from their doctors, according to the survey.
Hospitals are often a second choice, underscoring the key roles hospitals are
playing in community health-promotion and education.
In terms of the kinds of programs most desired, the survey results suggest
efforts that focus on the quality of life rather than on longevity. Other effective
steps, according to the survey, might include health-care financing that gives
people an incentive to change behavior through a combination of higher
premiums for unhealthy habits and more generous reimbursement of
preventative services; and legal sanctions and effective enforcement measures
against dangerous behavior in cases where this is appropriate.
-more-
Health Habits Survey/Page 5
The 1992 Baxter Survey of American Health Habits was conducted during
December 1992 by telephone interview with a total of 1,251 randomly selected
adults. The survey includes a number of questions which Louis Harris and
Associates has asked every year for the past 10 years (previously for Prevention
magazine).
For more information about programs offered by (Hospital name) or for a
copy of the survey, please call (Hospital contact) at (telephone number).
# # #
Sample
Letter To The
Editor
Dear Editor:
There's something that just about every single American can do about our
national health-care problem. But a new survey shows that lots of us aren't doing
it as well as we could and should.
What is it that we can do? It's to keep ourselves healthy in the first place -- eating
right, sleeping right and living right. The people in Washington are worrying
about our national health policy. But it's the people at home -- that means all of
us - who need to worry about our own good health.
This is serious business. A huge part of our nation's bill for health care (which
will be more than $900 billion this year) is directly related to unhealthy lifestyles.
As we all know, these include smoking, poor diet, alcohol and drug abuse, even
things like stress.
We also know that it costs much less to keep our good health than it does to
restore it once it's lost. But Americans aren't doing a very good job in this area,
according to the just-released Baxter Survey of American Health Habits. It shows,
for example, that we're exercising less than last year, being less careful about
nutrition -- and also feeling more stress in our day-to-day-lives.
(Hospital name) has just released detailed results of this survey in our community.
We also have a range of programs designed to promote healthful living. (Describe
programs briefly.)
In short, what we're trying to say at (Hospital name) is that good health care needs
to start with all of us taking good care of our own health.
Sincerely,
(Hospital CEO)
Sample
Newsletter
Article
Americans' Weight Up; Nutrition, Exercise Down, Survey Says
(Hospital name) Leads Health Campaign to Preserve Good Health
At a time when the nation can least afford it, Americans are slipping in
several important health habits, according to a new nationwide survey released
by (Hospital name). And because the cost of preventing illness is much less than
the cost of treating it, (Hospital name) is taking the lead in educating (city)
residents on positive health habits through (name planned programs).
During 1992, Americans gained weight, ate less carefully than in 1991, and
exercised no more than they did a decade ago, according to the 1992 Baxter
Survey of American Health Habits, conducted by Louis Harris and Associates,
who have been tracking health habits for 10 years. The new survey is sponsored
by Baxter International, working in partnership with hospitals nationwide.
Baxter is the world's leading marketer of health-care products, systems and
services.
According to the survey, the most significant improvements made recently in
health behavior across the nation are in areas such as seatbelt use and the use of
smoke detectors, where good habits are required by law. When it comes to
voluntary health habits, the nation is at best holding the line, and at worst
slipping from gains made in the early- to mid-1980s. Over the past 10 years, the
biggest gain in health habits was made in 1984 and 1985. Improvements
continued through the late '80s, but have been relatively flat since 1989 -- and are
down from 1991.
-more-
Health Habits Newsletter Article/Page 2
"The survey is a worrisome sign that we're becoming careless about
preventative health care," said (Hospital executive). "This is disturbing because if
we don't take steps to protect ourselves, we sacrifice what is probably our single
best opportunity to contain health-care costs. That's why we are working to make
sure this essential information about health behavior and risk reaches our
community."
Bad News; Good News
To understand the status of our nation's health, it is important to examine
the 1992 Baxter Survey results for behavior in important areas of preventative
health care. Among the survey's findings: (Select some or all statistics from the
following which are most applicable to your community.)
Exercise. Only 33 percent of Americans now get strenuous exercise three
times a week or more, down four percentage points from 1991.
Weight. Sixty-six percent of Americans are overweight -- up from
63 percent in 1991, and 58 percent in 1983.
Eating Patterns and Nutrition. Only 44 percent of Americans try hard to
avoid cholesterol, and only 51 percent try hard to avoid fat. Both figures
are down six percentage points from 1991. Particularly disturbing is that
avoiding cholesterol is the only nutritional behavior that improved over
the past decade -- until it fell six points from 1991 to 1992.
Smoking. Good news: Seventy-six percent of Americans are
nonsmokers -- an all-time high. Public-health experts point to extensive
education campaigns, as well as the introduction of more restrictive laws
on smoking in offices and public places. In addition, 30 percent of
smokers say they would be very likely to quit, and 27 percent say they
would be somewhat likely to quit, if they were required to pay
significantly more for health insurance.
Stress. Twenty-eight percent of Americans say they feel under great
stress at least several days a week. And only 58 percent say they get
seven to eight hours of sleep a night, down from 64 percent from 1983.
Over the past decade, stress levels have risen constantly for those aged
18-49, and held steady for those 50 and over.
-more-
Health Habits Newsletter Article/Page 3
Key findings (continued)
Women's Health Women are conscientious about health screening.
Forty-nine percent of women examine their breasts for signs of cancer once
each month -- up 12 percent from 1983. But only 40 percent of women over
65 examine their breasts cause for concern, since the risk of breast cancer
increases with age. Forty-four percent of women overall have a
mammogram at least every other year. For women aged 40 and over -- the
group for which mammography is recommended -- roughly two-thirds
report having the test at least every other year, which means one-third of all
American women in the same age group are not being screened as often as
they should be.
Health Attitudes. Americans want to change their health behavior. Seven
of 10 smokers say they want to quit smoking. More than four in 10
Americans say they want to learn more about good nutrition, and the same
number say they would like to lose weight. Half of those who say they do
not exercise regularly want to start.
Motivation to Change. Most of those surveyed (45 percent) say their
strongest motivation to adopt healthier habits is "to be healthier while
alive." One-third say that their strongest motivation is "to feel good about
[themselves] today." Only one-fifth say their strongest motivation is "to live
longer." Fifty-seven percent of Americans think that those with unhealthy
habits should pay more for their health insurance.
To help (city) residents reverse these trends and improve their health -- as
well as cut health-care costs -- (Hospital name) is offering a number of programs,
including (describe programs planned for the community).
"The survey confirms that Americans want to change their health habits, but
need to understand why and how to make these changes," said (Hospital
executive). "We're committed to helping our community improve its health."
The 1992 Baxter Survey of American Health Habits was conducted during
December 1992 by telephone interview with a total of 1,251 randomly selected
adults. The survey includes a number of questions which Louis Harris and
Associates has asked every year for the past 10 years (previously for Prevention
magazine).
For more information about programs offered by (Hospital name) or for a copy
of the survey, please call (Hospital contact) at (telephone number).
###