Blood Clot Knowledge Translation Research Project
Venous Thromboembolism or VTE is a serious condition. It happens when a blood clot forms in your body. They are dangerous, and you should get help as fast as possible if you have one. If you have trouble walking or climbing stairs, you really need to know about VTE because you’re more likely to get a blood clot. There are two different kinds of blood clots (or VTE) depending on where they happen in the body.
The first kind of VTE is call a deep vein thrombosis or DVT. These usually form in the arms or legs. They can also form in the shoulders or hips too. The second kind of VTE is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). A PE happens when a blood clot forms in or travels to the lungs.
Both of these are very dangerous! PE is even more dangerous because it can make it hard to breathe. You might also feel things like your chest hurting or your heart beating in a strange way. Sometimes people even feel dizzy. You should see your doctor right away if you think you have a blood clot. People get really hurt or even die!
People who have trouble walking or climbing stairs should really know the dangers of VTE. If you are a caregiver or a doctor, you should also know that people who have mobility disabilities may have a higher chance of getting a blood clot!
You can take steps to prevent blood clots! Read on to learn how you can take action.
These materials were developed as part of the Venous Thromboembolism Project. This project receives funding from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation to the American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD). The website content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. For more information about the project, contact Dr. Charles Drum at cdrum@aahd.us.
Medical disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care providers with any questions you may have regarding medical conditions or treatments.
We would like to thank the following organizations for their partnership and contributions to the VTE Project: National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA), Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), Ability360, Spa Area Independent Living Services (SAILS), and Anthem. Inc (now Elevance Health). We would also like to thank the following individuals for participating on the integrated knowledge translation (IKT) panel for the VTE project: Billy Altom, Kelly Buckland, Lisa Fullam, Phil Pangrazio, Brenda Stinebuck, Peter Thomas, Dr. Peter Kouides, Dr. Rachel Rosovsky, Merill Friedman, Roberta Carlin, and Karl Cooper.
Improving Venous thromboembolism (VTE) Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment Among Individuals with Mobility Disabilities
AAHD was the lead organization with our partners, the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA), the Association of Programs in Rural Independent Living (APRIL), and the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), and two Centers for Independent Living, for the two-year VTE KTTU Project. The VTE KTTU Project was funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. The purpose of the project is to improve the vascular health of adults with mobility disabilities as it relates to Venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE is a condition in which a blood clot forms and creates a hazardous and potentially deadly medical condition, especially for persons with mobility disabilities who are at high risk for VTE.
Impact Assessment
The VTE KTTU Project was a multi-site pilot embedded case study in one rural and one urban location to assess the impact of customized knowledge translation, transfer, and utilization (KTTU) activities in facilitating increases in VTE awareness and knowledge, patient activation, and clinical outcomes (diagnostic testing, preventive services, and treatment) among adults with mobility disabilities. The three target audiences were adults with mobility disabilities, direct care workers such as personal care attendants, and health care providers in two geographic locations. A special panel consisting of health experts, disability advocates, and health care providers and insurance experts assisted the project in converting VTE research findings into actionable forms for specific end users (translation), and advising the project on disseminating the modified findings (transfer) and subsequent use of the modified findings (utilization).
For more information contact: Charles E. Drum, MPA, JD, PhD at cdrum@aahd.us or (301) 545-6140, Extension 5.
