Women's Health Commons^™

Investigating Patient Barriers In Receiving Mammography Screenings Following The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nicole Clarke, Tara Pellegrino

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Current literature shows reduced breast cancer mortality is associated with compliance of mammographic screenings (Duffy, 2020), specifically increasing the survival rate an estimated 1-2% every year for the past thirty years (Giordano, 2004). However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, rates of basic cancer screenings, including breast cancer, all declined (Chen, 2021). Unfortunately, even in a “post-pandemic” world, years after the height of the pandemic, the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Family Medicine Office has noticed many female patients still have not kept up with their routine basic healthcare screenings. While there are many barriers in access to healthcare, this survey-based study …

Is A Patient Navigation Program More Helpful Than A Referral Program For Reducing Depression And Improving Quality Of Life Among Women Living In Neighborhoods With Few Resources?, Research Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The research team compared two programs designed to help women with feelings of depression who live in neighborhoods with few resources. Both programs lasted four months.

Assessment Of Breastfeeding Education In Medical Training, Saranya Madan, Abigail Kuplicki

Medical Student Research Symposium

In 2019, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine issued a revised set of educational objectives for medical trainees at various stages of education. In this statement, objectives for medical school were broken down into preclinical and clinical training objectives. In this project, our goal is to assess the degree to which medical training at Wayne State University School of Medicine is addressing these aims.

The assessment of breastfeeding education is accomplished by surveying medical students at various stages of training (M1-M4) and eliciting their level of confidence in and understanding of the topics outlined in the objectives by the Academy of …

"The Most Important Thing In Ipv Right Now": The Intersection Of Intimate Partner Violence And Brain Injury, Halina (Lin) Haag

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The intersection of intimate partner violence (IPV) and brain injury (BI) has been almost entirely overlooked in research, practice, and policy, despite the known risks associated with the two conditions. Individually, IPV and BI are associated with elevated rates of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness, as well as increased mental health challenges. These social determinants of health, employment status, and income impact women’s wellbeing through access to safe accommodations, food security, and (dis)ability supports. These determinants are also related to an increased likelihood of experiencing addictions, mental health challenges, and physical danger, potentially leaving women vulnerable to ongoing violence. This qualitative …

The Vaginal Microbiome Post-Menopause And Urinary Tract Infections, Rifke Anolik, Julia Kiffel, Venkateswar Venkataman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a condition where pathogens invade the urinary tract and can travel up the urethra and into the bladder. UTIs occur more commonly in females compared to males and in the post-menopausal population this rate increases significantly. While these infections may be asymptomatic, they can also cause severe discomfort and lead to serious and even life threatening complications. Recent investigation into the vaginal microbiome has opened the doors to a possible mechanism behind the increased incidence of UTIs after menopause. Understanding the pathogenesis behind the increased risk of UTIs in the postmenopausal state will allow …

An Interprofessional Public Library-Academic Partnership For Community Outreach On Women's Health, Lyndonna Marrast, Eun Ji Kim, Danielle Ezzo, Joseph Conigliaro

Urban Library Journal

This article describes a collaboration between a branch of the Queens Public Library in NY and an academic medical center that delivered a women’s health educational program with an interprofessional team of faculty, trainees, and students. The team delivered interactive 1-hour long monthly sessions in a Question and Answer format guided by a Powerpoint presentation. The overall goal was to deliver health education workshops on common medical conditions (i.e. diabetes, heart disease) and concerns of interest to women across the lifespan (i.e. infertility, dementia) to improve the health literacy of local community members. We outlined the steps in establishing this …

Find Your Flow: A Menstrual Health Social Media Campaign, Sarah Hamp-Adams

Kinesiology and Public Health

In many cultures, menstruation is surrounded by silence and shame instead of being celebrated as a sign of health and vitality. Globally, challenges, including stigma surrounding menstruation, create barriers for menstruators (White, 2013; Crawford, 2014; Garg, 2015). It proves to be difficult for young menstruators to navigate menarche due to the taboos and socio-cultural restrictions surrounding menstruation (Sharma,2015). Encouraging women to have open conversations about their periods is necessary to combat these challenges.

To understand how to address the stigmas around menstruation, the researchers first conducted a literature review, revealing that education messages via the Internet, posters, storytelling, and peer …

Foci Of Idc In Phyllodes Tumors: Should We Be Worried?: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Kathryn Eckert, Victoria Tiedemann, Linda Szczurek

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Phyllodes tumors are rare, fast growing fibroepithelial tumors of the breast that account for less than 1% of all breast tumors globally. They were first characterized by Johannes Muller in 1838 and most often present in the 5th decade of life. Phyllodes tumors are histologically composed of a stromal component and an epithelial component. The stromal component has a widely accepted malignant potential in up to 30% of cases. Grading of the stromal malignant potential of phyllodes tumors has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as benign, borderline, or malignant based on the presence and degree of stromal …

When A Woman Goes To Jail, Renee Onque, Emily Nadal

Capstones

The United States holds 30% of the world’s incarcerated women and the laws protecting their specific needs while in the prison system differ by state. New York, Minnesota and Alabama are introducing innovative ways to improve the birthing experiences of women who are incarcerated. From programs that allow mothers to send their breast milk on dry ice to their babies to nurseries within prisons that allow babies to live with their moms for up to a year, these states are pushing for progressive changes for mothers in the system. https://reneeonque.github.io/capstone/

Relation Of Breastfeeding Duration With Blood Pressure And Arterial Stiffness, Lohita Kollipara, Abbi Lane-Cordova, Xuewen Wang

Senior Theses

Background: The purpose of this analysis was to investigate the effects of differing breastfeeding duration on vascular function.

Methods: A study was designed to explore the breastfeeding patterns of 79 participants who delivered a singleton fetus 6 months-3 years ago and were aged 18-45 years old. Participant breastfeeding and dietary habits were self-reported using surveys. Breastfeeding groups were established by following the American Association of Pediatric guidelines on breastfeeding duration: Women who did versus did not breastfeeding for 6 months continuously. Blood pressure was measured using a standard oscillometric cuff, while SphygmoCor® technology was used to measure pulse wave velocity. …

The Ways In Which Women’S Suffrage Affected Healthcare, Madison M. Weber

The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

The 19th Amendment had and continues to have a major impact on women’s healthcare in the United States. Prior to suffrage, women had little to no ability to voice their thoughts on and change policies that regarded their own health. This essay addresses the way in which the vote both directly and indirectly impacted healthcare; including workplace conditions, maternal and reproductive rights, racial disparities, political advocacy and healthcare, the different waves of feminism, and how this has all affected modern healthcare for women. From progressive articles being published in women's magazines, to the establishment of marital rape, to the availability …

Contraceptive Education In South Carolina Women's Jails, Sarah B. Johnson

Senior Theses

Women in jail, which is currently a growing population, are at risk of unplanned pregnancy due to their potential exposure to alcohol and drug use, history of living in an abusive environment, and potential practice of prostitution(Clarke et al., 2012; Clarke et al., 2006; Kelly, 2012). The majority of female inmates are between the ages of 17-30, the peak reproductive age, which increases the importance of jails providing education to improve inmates’ reproductive health (Hale et al., 2009). Many females arrested will be released from jail back into society, making jails an opportune place to provide information to improve the …

Examining Access To Sexual And Reproductive Health Care Services And Information For Young Women With Physical Motor Disabilities In Dakar, Senegal, Olivia Soule, Diatou Sonko

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Access to and use of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Senegal remains low despite local and international interventions and campaigns to increase contraception use, increase knowledge regarding Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), and increase access to reproductive health services. Among marginalized groups, such as people living with disabilities, access to and use of services and information are even lower, and there are gaps in research involving Senegalese people with disabilities and their access to and use of SRH services and information. This mixed-methods, community-based participatory research examines how Senegalese women navigate their sexual and reproductive health care. It seeks …

From Suffrage To The Senate: Expanding Inclusion In Women's Rights To Achieve Women's Health Equality., Frances Grimstad

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Women’S Healthcare In Cuba, Hannah M. Van Curen

Student Works

Cuba’s healthcare system has been an important discussion since it became socialized in 1965. The seemingly prestigious and highly criticized system has had global impact: from the break of tradition from conservative Latin American countries, to the almost idyllic approach Cuba has taken proving socialism can exist. This paper explores the major differences between Cuba’s and America’s approach to women’s healthcare. This paper examines different aspects of women's health care through interviews of locals and observation of different clinics around the island. The topics include maternity leave, child care, abortions, and sex education. While there is varying discussion on how …

Being "With Women, For A Lifetime": The Current State Of Nurse-Midwifery Practice In The United States, Michal Koren

Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this research project is to explore the evolution of midwifery care from its earliest beginnings steeped within societal structures and birthing customs to its contemporary practices filled with professional regulations and competing technologies. Focused interest will be given to: 1) identifying the core values and basic principles of midwifery that have endured over time, and 2) ascertaining the significant changes in educational regulations and clinical competencies that influence midwifery practice in contemporary times.

Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion, Rodney Richmond

College of Pharmacy Faculty Research ​and Publications

No abstract provided.

Walking Mediates Associations Between Neighborhood Activity Supportiveness And Bmi In The Women's Health Initiative San Diego Cohort., Jordan A. Carlson, Rosemay A. Remigio-Baker, Cheryl A M Anderson, Marc A. Adams, Gregory J. Norman, Jacqueline Kerr, Michael H. Criqui, Matthew Allison

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether walking mediates neighborhood built environment associations with weight status in middle- and older-aged women.

METHODS: Participants (N=5085; mean age=64 ± 7.7; 75.4% White non-Hispanic) were from the Women's Health Initiative San Diego cohort baseline visits. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were measured objectively. Walking was assessed via survey. The geographic information system (GIS)-based home neighborhood activity supportiveness index included residential density, street connectivity, land use mix, and number of parks.

RESULTS: BMI was 0.22 units higher and the odds ratio for being obese (vs. normal or overweight) was 8% higher for every standard deviation …

Evaluating The Impact Of Pharmacist Health Education On The Perceptions Of The Pharmacist’S Role Among Women Living In A Homeless Shelter, Laura V. Tsu, Kelsey Buckley, Sarah Nguyen, Jennifer Kohn

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives: To determine the impact of pharmacist-provided educational seminars on the participant’s perception of the pharmacist’s role in providing women’s health education. Secondary objectives include the participant’s level of perceived benefit from the information provided during each presentation, as well as determining characteristics of participants who are interested in attending seminars.

Methods: This is a prospective study conducted within a homeless women’s shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. Pharmacists and pharmacy students provided 10 monthly educational seminars on topics related to women’s health. Participants completed a pre- and post-seminar survey regarding their perceptions of the presentations and pharmacists.

Results: …

Sex-Positive Curricula: An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Physical Fitness, Self-Concept And Sexual Functioning, Lia Jiannine

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the well-recognized benefits of exercise, Americans are gaining weight in astounding proportions and levels of physical activity are on the decline. The purpose of this study was to investigate a relationship between physical fitness, self-concept and sexual health. There is a dearth of knowledge on this relationship specifically in the context of sex-negative curricula, which is the dominate discourse in the United States.

One hundred and thirty-three participants between the ages of 18 - 50 volunteered for fitness testing and data collection. Physical fitness was assessed through body fat, resting metabolic rate, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance and …

Intimate Partner Violence Screening And Implications For Health Care Providers, Lori Maria Walton Phd, Dpt, Mph (S), Femke Aerts Dpt, Haley Burkhart Dpt, Teresa Terry Dpt

Journal of Health Ethics

Abstract:

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to (1) present research on current IPV screening prevalence within the medical community, (2) emphasize the importance of IPV screening for physical therapists,(3) identify barriers that exist to IPV screening, (4) examine current teaching methods for IPV within healthcare curriculums and (5) identify valid and reliable IPV screening tools for clinical application. Description: A comprehensive literature search on six different databases was completed from September 2012 to March 2014. Search terms included intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic violence, health providers and IPV screening tools. Randomized control trials were included if they …

Bad Medicine: Abortion And The Battle Over Who Speaks For Women's Health, Andrea D. Friedman

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Adequate Assurance Or Medical Mediocrity: An Analysis Of The Limits On The Affordable Care Act's Application To Women's Health, Nicole M. Hartz

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Frequency Of Private Spiritual Activity And Cardiovascular Risk In Post-Menopausal Women: The Women's Health Initiative, Elena Salmoirago Blotcher, George Fitchett, Kathleen M. Hovey, Eliezer Schnall, Cynthia Thomson, Christopher A. Andrews, Sybil Crawford, Mary Jo O'Sullivan, Stephen Post, Rowan T. Chlebowski, Judith K. Ockene

Sybil L. Crawford

Purpose: Spirituality has been associated with better cardiac autonomic balance, but its association with cardiovascular risk is not well studied. We examined whether more frequent private spiritual activity was associated with reduced cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study. Methods: Frequency of private spiritual activity (prayer, Bible reading, and meditation) was selfreported at year 5 of follow-up. Cardiovascular outcomes were centrally adjudicated, and cardiovascular risk was estimated from proportional hazards models. Results: Final models included 43,708 women (mean age: 68.9±7.3; median follow-up: 7.0 years) free of cardiac disease through year 5 of follow-up. In …

The Supply Of Physicians And Care For Breast Cancer In Ontario And California, 1998 To 2006, Kevin M. Gorey, Isaac N. Luginaah, Caroline Hamm, Madhan K. Balagurusamy, Eric J. Holowaty

Social Work Publications

INTRODUCTION: We examined the differential effects of the supply of physicians on care for breast cancer in Ontario and California. We then used criteria for optimum care for breast cancer to estimate the regional needs for the supply of physicians.

METHODS: Ontario and California registries provided 951 and 984 instances of breast cancer diagnosed between 1998 and 2000 and followed until 2006. These cohorts were joined with the supply of county-level primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists in cancer care and compared on care for breast cancer.

RESULTS: Significant protective PCP thresholds (7.75 to = 8.25 PCPs per 10 000 …