Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2021
ReviewPotential Strategies to Increase Gynecologic Oncologist Treatment for Ovarian Cancer.
Evidence shows that treatment by gynecologic oncologists (GOs) increases overall survival among women with ovarian cancer. However, specific strategies for institutions and community-based public health programs to promote treatment by GOs are lacking. To address this, we conducted a literature review to identify evidence-based and promising system- and environmental-change strategies for increasing treatment by GOs, in effort to ensure that all women with ovarian cancer receive the standard of care. ⋯ Public health programs and entities that measure delivery of quality health care may pilot the strategies in their populations. Certain strategies may work better in certain environments and a combination of strategies may be necessary for any one entity to increase GO ovarian cancer care. Findings, lessons learned, and recommendations from implementation projects would inform community and public health practice.
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2021
Gender Differences in Medical Cannabis Use: Symptoms Treated, Physician Support for Use, and Prescription Medication Discontinuation.
Background: Medical cannabis (MC) utilization continues to expand in the United States, as a growing body of evidence supports the use of cannabis and cannabinoids in the treatment of a range of chronic conditions. To date, gender-related differences in MC use are not widely reported, and little is known regarding physicians' support of patients' use of MC to address symptoms associated with chronic conditions. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of MC users in Illinois (n = 361). ⋯ Multivariable analyses indicate that being a woman, using MC to treat multiple symptoms, and reporting higher levels of support for MC use from a primary care provider significantly increased the likelihood of discontinuing prescription medication through MC use. Discussion: Women are more likely to report decreased use of prescription medications to treat symptoms, and report lower levels of support from physicians for MC use. Future research on gender differences in this population may benefit from more detailed data related to symptomology, utilization, dosing, and outcomes associated with MC, and interactions with the health care system to extend these findings.
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2021
Contraceptive Effectiveness of an FDA-Cleared Birth Control App: Results from the Natural Cycles U.S. Cohort.
Background: Digital fertility awareness-based methods of birth control are an attractive alternative to hormonal or invasive birth control for modern women. They are also popular among women who may be planning a pregnancy over the coming years and wish to learn about their individual menstrual cycle. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Natural Cycles app at preventing pregnancy for a cohort of women from the United States and to describe the key demographics of current users of the app in such a cohort. ⋯ When the app was used under perfect use, the PI was 2.0. Conclusions: The data presented in this study give insights into the cohort of women using this app in the United States, and provide country-specific effectiveness estimates. The contraceptive effectiveness of the app was in line with previously published figures from Natural Cycles (PI of seven for typical use and two for perfect use).
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2021
Breast Arterial Calcification Is Not Associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Incident All-Cause Dementia Among Postmenopausal Women: The MINERVA Study.
Background: Since vascular risk factors are implicated in cognitive decline, and breast arterial calcification (BAC) is related to vascular risk, we postulated that BAC may be associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. Methods: We used a multiethnic cohort of 3,913 asymptomatic women 60-79 years of age recruited after mammography screening at a large health plan in 2012-2015. A BAC mass score (mg) was derived from digital mammograms. ⋯ No significant associations were found between BAC presence with incident all-cause dementia (fully adjusted hazard ratio = 0.74; 95% confidence interval: 0.39-1.39). Likewise, no significant association with incident all-cause dementia was noted for BAC gradation. Conclusions: Our results do not support the hypothesis that BAC presence or gradation may contribute to cognitive impairment or development of all-cause dementia.
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2021
Patterns of Treatment Utilization Across the Perinatal Period in the Center for Maternal and Infant Outcomes and Research in Translation (COMFORT) Veterans Study.
Background: Women Veterans using Veterans Affairs (VA) maternity care represent a high-risk population owing to the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Given the increased risk of symptom recurrence and/or medication discontinuation during pregnancy, the aim of this study was to understand the relationship between mental health and health care utilization in pregnant Veterans within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Materials and Methods: Women with a confirmed pregnancy were recruited from 15 VA sites across the United States. ⋯ A small proportion of women with histories of mental health conditions did not utilize mental health care within the VA during pregnancy and postpartum. Conclusions: These results inform our understanding of VA health care utilization patterns in pregnant Veterans, particularly those with a history of depression, PTSD, and/or anxiety. The strong utilization of VA mental health services during this time emphasizes the importance of optimizing the coordination of care between VA mental health providers and community-provided obstetric care to enhance outcomes for both mother and child.