The document discusses developing advocacy campaigns to address frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). It summarizes two existing campaigns - the Food for Thought Campaign, which raises awareness and funds across 37 U.S. states and 10+ countries, and a campaign at One World Trade Center focusing on social media. The document proposes a new advocacy campaign utilizing celebrities and evidence to increase understanding of FTD symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention through education and collaboration between patients, families and medical professionals.

1. DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN (Part 2)
2
The Case for Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD)
(Part 2)
NURS-6050N-23: Policy & Advocacy for Pop Health
Introduction
The present US health care policies and regulations established
by the various government agencies, insurance companies and
other healthcare organizations pose certain challenges to us as
nurses and of course the patients who are generally the ones

2. caught in the middle of cost and payment constraints and access
to applicable quality care. According to the 2005 data from the
United States Census Bureau about 50 million Americans are
uninsured while at the same time the cost of health care is still
rising. With the continued rising costs of care, degenerating and
lack of access to comprehensive care, and poor-quality services,
there is an urgent need to improve our health care performances
in the United States. (Carey, 2006). As such, changes are
required in government, health care organizations and insurance
policies that tackles most of the health-related issues. (Kendig,
2006). This project focuses on the development of an advocacy
campaign with a view towards addressing how current laws or
regulations may affect how to proceed in advocating for a
proposed policy and how to influence legislators and other
policymakers to enact a policy. The project also examined
possible barriers to the legislative steps that could impede a
proposed policy from being enforced as designed. (WaldenU,
2017).
The existing laws and regulations that are used can address the
situation and contribute to changing the chronic illnesses that
plague the world but using these strategies by themselves will
not be suffice for addressing the problems associated with Non-
Communicable Diseases across the world. This is because many
countries have weak health care systems, even those that are
considered “First” world countries such as America. The
existing laws and regulations are encapsulated in global legal
doctrines as well as national doctrines to provide budgeting for

3. healthcare prevention but this often is negatively impacted by
under-budgeting that occurs, poor demand forecasting, and poor
distribution of services to those most in need. (Cherry, &
Trotter Betts, 2005).
Governments across the world are implementing fiscal policies
that are predicated upon raising taxes, utilization of subsidiary
statutory instruments such as regulations that establish
standards that must be met toward cigarettes, alcohol, and other
major contributors to NCDs, and the improvement of access to
NCD treatments. Government agencies also play a role in
monitoring and enforcing regulations that are established to
address this global healthcare problem. Other measures that are
taken by governments are predicated upon the allocation of
resources to train healthcare providers, developing policies that
ensure the retention of healthcare providers, establishment of
financing mechanisms for the provision of healthcare services,
and universal access to essential medicines to treat NCDs in
some countries. There are also investments into the
infrastructure within these countries predicated upon capital
investments. There are also mechanisms that are in place to try
to ensure accountability regarding governance over these issues,
and the accountability begins at the highest-levels of
governance. (Cherry, & Trotter Betts, 2005).
Methods of Influencing Legislators & Policymakers to Support
the Policy
The policy can be influenced through evidence-based research
that focuses upon the economic losses that occur because of
these chronic diseases within countries. This is especially true
for low and middle-income developing countries wherein the
losses could exceed $500 billion per year if they fail to address
these NCDs within their populations. More employees dying
early or more employees afflicted with chronic illnesses that
take them out of the workplace will impact the GDP of these
countries with some losing on average 4% per year. The
objective for any lobbying effort should be to focus on the

4. prevention of diseases by empowering citizens to engage in
more healthy practices and behaviors while also providing the
opportunities for those within the lowest and least economically
advantaged classes to access more quality food, lifestyles, etc.
It is imperative to recognize that governments cannot simply
throw money toward this problem as this strategy will fail.
There must be an investment into the people wherein the
policies that are cultivated are capable of empowering citizens
to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Summary of Obstacles Arising in the Legislative Process and
the
Solution
There are many obstacles that will arise throughout the
legislative process and these include the fact that industries
such as Big Tobacco, Big Alcohol, and Big Pharma are intent
upon ensuring that the negative lifestyles led by global citizens
continue. Other industries with vested interests toward
preventing these policies from coming into fruition include the
Soft Drink Industry and the Fast Food Industry. These
stakeholders spend millions of dollars lobbying their cause to
governments across the world. Therefore, they are formidable
foes who will continue to prevent legislation from cutting into
their profits. In addition, many countries have weak health care
systems, and before these systems can effectively be reformed,
the ability to transform their citizens will be almost impossible

5. as this is mandatory.
To address these problems requires the adoption of a
comprehensive approach by leadership wherein the use of
community-based programs is included within the strategic plan
with investments made in healthcare systems at the forefront of
the strategy. To improve how citizens, engage in lifestyle
behaviors requires an improvement in healthcare infrastructures
so that these vital and critical functions will be there to guide,
monitor, and serve patients. There must be an approach toward
reducing suffering among the most vulnerable citizens wherein
the objective is to ensure that the government can increase
expenditures affixed toward these NCDs while also defining
who within society are entitled to receive government assistance
as governmental safety nets are required for assuring that the
most vulnerable and most likely to suffer from NCDs are not
unable to access the required variables to succeed in improving
their lifestyle behaviors.
These expenditures can be characterized by publicly-funded
services for the most vulnerable citizens, the use of taxation and
compulsory insurance contributions, and financing for
healthcare that includes the right to health within national
budgets. Quintessentially, the World Health Organization has
proposed the adoption of a universal access to healthcare
approach that all governments should implement, but this has
yet to come into fruition.

6. Conclusion
In conclusion, for a successful advocacy to be implemented to
improve and bring meaningful changes to our health care
system, it requires insistence to access and to the resources of
power, the will to advocate, time and commitment, and the
energy that goes along with all the necessary political skills. As
nurses, we must take action in the public health policy sector;
determine and analyze the known power bases available to us as
we consider the role of an advocacy for change and
improvement in our health care system; promote and discuss the
various processes in the legislative sector; search for different
strategies in our pursuit of effective action plan; and compile a
list of resources available to boost our morale and develop the
tenacity and ability to model, shape and impact the health
policies. Finally, we must initiate proposals that will bring
about change and improvements, and use our nursing power to
veto any unfavorable proposals to substantially influence the
implementation of effective and efficient health policies.
(Fawcett, & Russell, 2001).

7. References
Carey, M.A. (2006). U.S. scores poorly on health scorecard.
Washington Health Policy Week in Review. Retrieved from
www.cmwf.org/healthpolicyweek/healthpolicyweek_show.htm?
doc_id=405005
Cherry, B., & Trotter Betts, V. (2005). Health policy and
politics: Get involved! In B. Cherry & S. Jacobs (Eds.)
Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends & management (pp.211-
233). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Inc.
Fawcett, J. & Russell, G. (2001). A conceptual model of nursing
and health policy. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice 2(2),
108-116.
Kendig, S.M. (2006). Advocacy, action, and the allure of butter:
A focus on policy. Highlights of the Nurse Practitioners in
Women’s Health 8th Annual Conference. Retrieved from
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/523631.
Magnusson R. S., & Patterson, D. (2014). The role of law and
governance reform in the global response to non-communicable
diseases. Retrieved from

8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4077679/
Milstead, J. A. (2016). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s
guide (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
DEVELOPING AN ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN
2
The Case for Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD)
NURS-6050N-23: Policy & Advocacy for Pop Health

9. Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) denotes a critical
population health issue in America. Research shows how "FTD
is devastating for those affected. Yet it is little known and it is
poorly understood. "It can take years for families to get a
correct diagnosis" (PR, 2015). As the most prevalent form of
dementia for adults under age 60, this issue is vital to foster
awareness of since “It is frequently confused with Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's, and certain psychiatric disorders. Misdiagnosis is
costly for patients and the medical community” (PR, 2015).
Scholars also show how “FTD is a rare disease, affecting
approximately 50,000 nationwide. It is a debilitating form of
dementia that affects the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the
brain. FTD strikes people in the prime of life--typically between
ages 50 and 60--and erodes their ability to speak, move and/or
behave within social norms. There is no known cure for FTD”
(PR, 2014).

10. Summary of the two Advocacy Campaigns
Of the 2 campaigns, the first is called the Food for Thought
Campaign. It hosts events in 37 U.S. states, so it attempts to
achieve diversity. This campaign also uses a targeted approach
to reach a global audience as currently “More than 10 countries
across the world are taking part” (PR, 2015). In contrast, the
second campaign seemed to be more local in aim as it dealt
primarily at One World Trade Center in New York and had more
social media emphasis.
An Explanation of the Attributes of the Effective Campaigns
Some traits that made the Food for Thought Campaign effective
include its dual emphasis on raising funds to fight FTD but also
increasing awareness. By aligning events during World FTD
Awareness Week from October 4-11, 2015, it also helps to
promote education through community and social collaboration
as it supports “Sharing food brings families and communities
together," she added, "and these events foster a sense of
connection for people facing an isolating disease" (PR, 2015).
The range of activities, not merely a single race-theme, make
this campaign effective since free choice is given and
“Participants stage any Food for Thought event they choose.
Examples: offering coffee and donuts at work while playing a
YouTube clip, having a home cooked meal with friends, sharing
family recipes on social media or partnering with a local
community restaurant for profit sharing” (PR, 2015). Food

11. brings all people together, so I like the logic of this campaign
as races and exercise events can often isolate or intimidate
those who are not athletically inclined, healthy, able, or fit. A
major attribute of the second campaign is the fact that it has a
highly global social media connection.
Development of a New Plan for the Health Advocacy Campaign
for a new policy in Relation to the Issue and the Population.
Part of the plan will be to facilitate awareness of and correct
fallacies about FTD, how it is effectively diagnosed, treated,
and ultimately prevented.
Specific Objectives for the Policy to be Implemented
· Provide information about the myths and realities of
Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD
· Offer strategies for patients and their families to improve the
quality of life of people affected by FTD
· Augment collaboration by providing resources, awareness, and
education for FTD
· Help to prevent misdiagnoses among the medical community
· Work to achieve foster a cure
My plan will also involve having local and national celebrities
engage in the campaign to give it more pop culture appeal,
modeled after a 2014 British governmental campaign, entitled
"Live Aid for the 21st century", “featuring several celebrities
singing the song "With a Little Help from My Friends" by the

12. Beatles” (Celebrities back £3m dementia campaign, 2014).
The proposed campaign will be backed by data and evidence to
demonstrate how “Frontotemporal degeneration is a rare,
debilitating form of dementia that affects the frontal and/or
temporal lobes of the brain, robbing its victims of the very
things that make them unique as human beings—their
personality, their emotions, and their ability to communicate”
(PR, (2014). Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) is paramount
for citizens to understand since it “strikes in the prime of life
when few thinks of dementia. That makes awareness so
important" (PR, 2015, October 1). Studies also confirm how
“Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) encompasses the syndromes of
behavioral variant FTD and primary progressive aphasia (PPA)
and refers to those neurodegenerative diseases characterized by
predominant pathological involvement of the frontal and
temporal lobes” (Hopkins & Chan, 2016).
References
Celebrities back £3m dementia campaign. (2014). Marketing

13. (00253650), 1.
Hopkins, S., & Chan, D. (2016). Key emerging issues in
frontotemporal dementia. Journal of Neurology, 263(2), 407.
doi:10.1007/s00415-015-7880-7.
PR, N. (2014). Discovery Fit & Health Helps Raise Awareness
for Frontotemporal Degeneration with Exclusive Broadcast
Rights to Short-form Documentary IT IS WHAT IT IS -
FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION: TRAGIC LOSS,
ABIDING HOPE. PR Newswire US.
PR, N. (2014). Rare Brain Disorder Included for First Time in
National Plan to Cure Alzheimer's Disease and Other
Dementias. PR Newswire US.
PR, N. (2015). Eat, Not Exercise, to Do Some Good: National
Nonprofit Takes a Bite out of Dementia with Grassroots
Campaign Targeting All 50 States. PR Newswire US.
PR, N. (2015). First-ever World FTD Awareness Week
Launches Tonight at One World Trade Center. PR Newswire
US.