M. Zuckerman, Navid Navizedeh, J. Feldman, S. McCalla, H. Minkoff
{"title":"Determinants of women's choice of obstetrician/gynecologist.","authors":"M. Zuckerman, Navid Navizedeh, J. Feldman, S. McCalla, H. Minkoff","doi":"10.1089/152460902753645317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/152460902753645317","url":null,"abstract":"INTRODUCTION\u0000There has been a reported increase in women's desires to have female medical providers. It is unclear if this finding extends to obstetrician/gynecologists or how important gender is relative to other factors in choosing a provider. This study seeks to address these issues.\u0000\u0000\u0000METHODS AND MATERIALS\u0000In community locations in Brooklyn, New York, 537 women completed a questionnaire regarding demographics, gender of their current provider, and whether they considered age, gender, experience, location, or cost to be the most important factor in choosing an obstetrician/gynecologist. They rated their current experience and the importance of gender using a 10-point Likert scale.\u0000\u0000\u0000RESULTS\u0000Overall, 61% of participants preferred a female provider. The proportion did not vary with gender of the interviewer or participants' age. A female provider was preferred by 56% of Protestants, 58% of Catholics, and 58% of Jews and by 74% of Hindus and 89% of Muslims (p = 0.02). Regardless of whether a woman preferred a male or a female provider, 38% of participants felt strongly (7-10 on Likert scale) that gender was important. There was no difference in satisfaction with current provider between women who preferred a male or female provider. Gender was as important in choosing an obstetrician as experience or cost. Almost as many women with a female provider indicated a preference for a male (46%) as women with a male provider who preferred a female provider (54%).\u0000\u0000\u0000CONCLUSIONS\u0000A slight majority of these women, particularly those who are Hindu or Moslem or currently use a female, prefer female providers. Only a minority of these women feel strongly about their preference, and women with male providers are as satisfied as are women with female providers. Gender of provider was about as important as a physician's experience in choice of clinician.","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"175-80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79487016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Y. Andejeski, Erica S. Breslau, E. Hart, N. Lythcott, L. Alexander, I. Rich, I. Bisceglio, H. Smith, F. Visco
{"title":"Benefits and drawbacks of including consumer reviewers in the scientific merit review of breast cancer research.","authors":"Y. Andejeski, Erica S. Breslau, E. Hart, N. Lythcott, L. Alexander, I. Rich, I. Bisceglio, H. Smith, F. Visco","doi":"10.1089/152460902753645263","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/152460902753645263","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND\u0000This study assessed participant opinions about inclusion of breast cancer survivors as lay representatives in a scientific and technical merit review of proposals for the 1995 Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP).\u0000\u0000\u0000METHODS\u0000The evaluation employed a prepanel and postpanel survey design, which was intended to elicit feedback about attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs toward collaborative consumer and scientist participation in scientific merit review. Qualitative methods were used to describe the consumers' and scientists' responses, to explore the significance of this interaction, and to gain an understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of bringing these participants together.\u0000\u0000\u0000RESULTS\u0000Both groups were initially troubled about the consumers' lack of scientific background and questioned their qualifications and preparation for participation in a scientific panel. In particular, consumers were concerned that their judgments would not be taken seriously by scientists, a concern somewhat lessened by participation. After the meeting, scientists viewed the consumers as hard-working, dedicated survivors and advocates and endorsed the presence of carefully chosen lay panel members. Scientists were troubled that consumers potentially would have an impact on voting and on the subsequent scoring of proposals, a concern that was not validated by quantitative findings.\u0000\u0000\u0000CONCLUSIONS\u0000As a result of these data, the DOD BCRP continues to embrace clarify the nature of collaborative participation in scientific merit review.","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"179 1","pages":"119-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77002209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Saraiya, N. Lee, D. Blackman, Moira Smith, B. Morrow, M. McKenna
{"title":"Observations from the CDC. An assessment of Pap smears and hysterectomies among women in the United States.","authors":"M. Saraiya, N. Lee, D. Blackman, Moira Smith, B. Morrow, M. McKenna","doi":"10.1089/152460902753645245","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/152460902753645245","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"28 1","pages":"103-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73083183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E. Liske, W. Hänggi, H. Zepelin, N. Boblitz, P. Wüstenberg, V. Rahlfs
{"title":"Physiological investigation of a unique extract of black cohosh (Cimicifugae racemosae rhizoma): a 6-month clinical study demonstrates no systemic estrogenic effect.","authors":"E. Liske, W. Hänggi, H. Zepelin, N. Boblitz, P. Wüstenberg, V. Rahlfs","doi":"10.1089/152460902753645308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/152460902753645308","url":null,"abstract":"OBJECTIVE\u0000This study sought to confirm the efficacy and safety of the currently recognized dose of Cimicifugae racemosae rhizoma (40 mg/day) and to evaluate a higher dose and its associated physiological effects.\u0000\u0000\u0000METHODS\u0000We conducted a controlled, randomized, double-blinded parallel group study of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women treated with two different doses (39 mg and 127.3 mg) of a unique C. racemosa preparation over a 24-week period. Efficacy and tolerability were determined by the Kupperman Menopause Index, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), a global assessment of tolerability, adverse events, routine hematology, and biochemical tests. To determine if the unique C. racemosa preparation exerts its effect through an estrogen-identical mode of action, we investigated vaginal cytology and gynecologically relevant hormones.\u0000\u0000\u0000RESULTS\u0000Both perimenopausal and postmenopausal patients tolerated the treatment well, and menopausal symptoms decreased regardless of dose (responder rate 70% and 72%, respectively). The lack of change in vaginal cytology measures indicates a nonestrogenic effect of the tested extract in this critical organ. Likewise, the lack of significant changes in the levels of gynecologically relevant hormones does not indicate an overall estrogenic effect.\u0000\u0000\u0000CONCLUSIONS\u0000The higher dose did not exert a significantly greater effect on any end point. Thus, the currently recognized standard dose of the isopropanolic aqueous C. racemosa extract should be preferred over the higher dose. Despite the absence of a placebo group, this study suggests that C. racemosa extract is associated with improvement in menopause symptoms without evidence of estrogenlike effects.","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"6 1","pages":"163-74"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89940140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E. Funkhouser, L. Pulley, Guenther Lueschen, C. Costello, E. Hook, S. Vermund
{"title":"Douching beliefs and practices among black and white women.","authors":"E. Funkhouser, L. Pulley, Guenther Lueschen, C. Costello, E. Hook, S. Vermund","doi":"10.1089/152460902753473435","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/152460902753473435","url":null,"abstract":"To ascertain beliefs about douching, douching practices, and their motivational antecedents among adult women living in the southeastern United States, we conducted a telephone survey of a random sample of 535 adult women. Douching was deemed a good hygienic practice by 65% of women, half of whom believed that douching was necessary for good hygiene. These beliefs were more common among black than white women. Older women and less educated women were more likely to believe that douching prevented infections and pregnancies. Physicians were the only discouraging influence regarding douching reported by a substantial proportion of the women. Healthcare providers' advice not to douche is correlated with not douching. Encouragement by mother (OR = 4.7, 95% CI 1.9-11.4), being black (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-6.9), and having no more than a high school education (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.2) were independently associated with ever (vs. never) douching. A substantial proportion of adult women living in the southeastern United States believe that douching is necessary for good hygiene. Our findings suggest that advice from healthcare providers to discourage the practice may have a salutary effect.","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"16 1","pages":"29-37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84350649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Delay in obtaining conventional healthcare by female internal medicine patients who use herbal therapies.","authors":"R. Brienza, M. Stein, M. Fagan","doi":"10.1089/152460902753473499","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/152460902753473499","url":null,"abstract":"The use of herbal products has been studied in the general population, but few studies have focused on the prevalence of herbal therapy use for treatment of symptoms or disease among female internal medicine patients or on predictors for delaying obtaining conventional care while using herbal therapy. Cross-sectional 34-item self-report surveys were mailed to female patients in two private practice internal medicine sites and interviewer administered to patients in a resident ambulatory clinic. The survey included sociodemographics, medical problems, use of herbal therapies, and whether conventional care was delayed while using herbal therapy. Of 354 patients, 220 (62%) participated. Their mean age was 51 years, and most were Caucasian (77%) and had more than a high school education (60%). Of these, 81 (37%) women used herbal therapies for treatment of symptoms or disease, and use did not differ by study site. Twenty-six (32%) delayed obtaining conventional care while waiting for an herbal product to work, although most eventually obtained conventional care. In multivariate analysis, predictors for delay of care included negative experience with prescription medicines, history of failed treatments, and desire for increased control over personal healthcare. Among female patients of general internists, there was a high prevalence of herbal therapy use for treatment of illness, and some women delay obtaining conventional care while using an herbal product. Predictors for delay may alert physicians to educate their patients before delaying care.","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"79-87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87897590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Usual dietary isoflavone intake, bone mineral density, and bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.","authors":"D. Kritz-Silverstein, D. Goodman-gruen","doi":"10.1089/152460902753473480","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/152460902753473480","url":null,"abstract":"Clinical trials of isoflavone supplementation and bone density have been of relatively short duration and yielded inconsistent results. Few studies examined the effects of usual dietary isoflavone intake on bone density, and none examined the effects on markers of bone turnover. This cross-sectional study examines the association of usual, unsupplemented dietary soy intake with bone density at the lumbar spine and hip and markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women. Participants were 208 postmenopausal Southern California women aged 45-74 years. Information on behavioral and lifestyle factors was obtained, and dietary intake of isoflavones over the past year was assessed with a standardized questionnaire. Bone density was measured at the spine and hip with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptides (N-Tx) and pyridinium cross-links (PYR), both markers of bone resorption, and bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), a marker of bone formation, were assayed. After adjustment for age and obesity, women with the highest daily intake of dietary genistein had N-Tx concentrations 18% lower than those of women who reported no daily genistein consumption (mean 37.29 vs. 45.44, respectively, p = 0.01). After adjustment for all covariates, there were trends toward significant differences in N-Tx (p = 0.09) and spine bone density (p = 0.07), whereby women with the highest level of isoflavone consumption had greater bone density at the spine. These results suggest that usual, unsupplemented dietary isoflavone consumption may be protective against bone loss in postmenopausal women through a reduction in bone resorption.","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"1 1","pages":"69-78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81176410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. Arjmandi, D. A. Khalil, E. Lucas, Amanda Georgis, B. Stoecker, Claudia Hardin, M. Payton, R. Wild
{"title":"Dried plums improve indices of bone formation in postmenopausal women.","authors":"B. Arjmandi, D. A. Khalil, E. Lucas, Amanda Georgis, B. Stoecker, Claudia Hardin, M. Payton, R. Wild","doi":"10.1089/152460902753473471","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/152460902753473471","url":null,"abstract":"Menopause drastically increases the risk of osteoporosis. Aside from drug therapy, lifestyle and nutritional factors play an important role in the maintenance of skeletal health. Our recent findings suggest that dried plums, a rich source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, are highly effective in modulating bone mass in an ovarian hormone-deficient rat model of osteoporosis. The objective of this study was to examine whether the addition of dried plums to the diets of postmenopausal women positively influences markers of bone turnover. Fifty-eight postmenopausal women not on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were randomly assigned to consume either 100 g dried plums or 75 g dried apples daily for 3 months. Both dried fruit regimens provided similar amount of calories, fat, carbohydrate, and fiber. Serum and urinary biochemical markers of bone status were assessed before and after treatment. In comparison with corresponding baseline values, only dried plums significantly increased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) activity. Higher levels of both serum IGF-I and BSAP are associated with greater rates of bone formation. Serum and urinary markers of bone resorption, however, were not affected by either dietary regimen. The results of this study suggest that dried plums may exert positive effects on bone in postmenopausal women. Longer duration studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of dried plum on bone mineral density (BMD) and the skeletal health of postmenopausal women.","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"9 1","pages":"61-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76411163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Risk factors for exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among ethnically diverse women in the United States.","authors":"K. Stamatakis, R. Brownson, D. Luke","doi":"10.1089/152460902753473453","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/152460902753473453","url":null,"abstract":"The likelihood of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been shown to vary across sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and the type of smoking restrictions at work. Women may be particularly at risk. The purpose of our study was to assess differences in the likelihood of exposure to ETS at home and at work among an ethnically diverse sample of women age 40 and older in the United States. We used data from the U.S. Women's Determinants Study and restricted the sample to include only nonsmoking women (n = 2326). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for exposure to ETS by sociodemographic characteristics, health risk behaviors, and the type of workplace smoking policy were calculated using logistic regression. Exposure to ETS at home was associated with being American Indian/Alaska Native (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0, 2.6), age 40-44 (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0, 2.6) and 45-54 (aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2, 2.6), having eighth grade (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3, 3.6) or high school education (aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4, 3.3), inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0, 2.1), and not getting screened for breast cancer (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1, 2.0). Women who did not have regular breast (aOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.9, 1.9) and cervical (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5, 5.3) cancer screening were more likely to be exposed to ETS at work. Exposure to ETS at work was higher among women with some high school education (aOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.5, 5.3) and high school graduates (aOR 3.1, 95% CI 1.9, 5.1) and substantially higher for women who worked where smoking was allowed in some (aOR 15.1, 95% CI 10.2, 22.4) or all (aOR 44.8, 95% CI 19.6, 102.4) work areas. Larger effect sizes were observed for the relationship between selected risk factors and ETS exposure at work than for ETS exposure at home. Among individual risk factors, lower education level was most strongly related to ETS exposure at work. The likelihood of being exposed to ETS at work was highest for women whose workplace smoking policies allowed smoking in some or all work areas.","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"35 1","pages":"45-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90780740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Women's health literaturewatch.","authors":"","doi":"10.1089/jwh.1.1999.8.1339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.1.1999.8.1339","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":80044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine","volume":"4 1","pages":"191-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73310183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}