Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2023
Gender Discrimination and Mental Health Among Health Care Workers: Findings from a Mixed Methods Study.
Background: Gender discrimination among healthcare workers (HCWs) negatively impacts their mental health and career development; however, few studies have explored how experiences of gender discrimination change during times of health system strain. Methods: This survey-based study assesses the associations between gender discrimination and four stress-related mental health outcomes (posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout), as well as the qualitative experiences of gender discrimination in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Using thematic analysis, we identified five themes that describe experiences of gender discrimination faced by women in healthcare, including differential valuing of work and contributions, gendered roles and assumptions about roles, maternal discrimination, objectification, and "old boys club." We also identified two themes describing how men perceived gender discrimination, including instances of symbolic discrimination and woman provider preference. Conclusion: These findings suggest that experiences of gender discrimination persist during times of health system strain and negatively impact women HCWs' mental health.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2023
ReviewScoping Review of the Use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in the United States.
Objective: To evaluate the validity of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for screening during the perinatal period in the United States and concerns regarding its acceptability and performance. Methods: We conducted a systematic search in OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE (OVID), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycInfo (EBSCO) for articles published from inception of the database through February 2023. We included primary quantitative and qualitative studies on the validation of the EPDS in the United States and identified 880 articles of which 9 met criteria for inclusion. ⋯ Results: We found no evidence that the original wording of the EPDS, which was developed in the United Kingdom, was adapted before validation in the United States. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that adaptation of the EPDS for use in the United States with a focus on contextual equivalence and validity could improve the performance of the tool and patients' experiences with completing the tool. Future research is warranted on optimal methods to adapt the EPDS for mental health screening in the perinatal period in the United States.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2023
Hysterectomy With and Without Oophorectomy, Tubal Ligation, and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in the Nurses' Health Study II.
Background: Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and tubal ligation are common surgical procedures. The literature regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk after these surgeries has focused on oophorectomy with limited research on hysterectomy or tubal ligation. Materials and Methods: Participants in the Nurses' Health Study II (n = 116,429) were followed from 1989 to 2017. ⋯ The association between hysterectomy/oophorectomy and CVD and coronary revascularization risk varied by age at gynecologic surgery, with the strongest association among women who had surgery before age 50 years. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that hysterectomy, alone or in combination with oophorectomy, as well as tubal ligation, may be associated with an increased risk of CVD and coronary revascularization. These findings extend previous research finding that oophorectomy is associated with CVD.
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This article reviews recent advances in the treatment of breast cancer. The goal in selecting these recent articles was to help identify literature that may change the clinical practice of women's health for practitioners in the primary care setting. Articles were identified by reviewing the high-impact medical and women's health journals, national guidelines, ACP JournalWise, and NEJM Journal Watch. In this Clinical Update, we selected recent publications relevant to the treatment and complications of treatment of breast cancer.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2023
Physical Fitness in Relationship to Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder During Pregnancy Among U.S. Army Soldiers.
Background: Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are prevalent in pregnancy, especially among military members. These conditions can lead to adverse birth outcomes, yet, there's a paucity of evidence for prevention strategies. Optimizing physical fitness is one understudied potential intervention. ⋯ Findings were similar in stratified analyses. Conclusion: In this cohort, the odds of active depression or PTSD during pregnancy were significantly reduced among soldiers with higher prepregnancy fitness scores. Optimizing physical fitness may be a useful tool to reduce mental health burden on pregnancy.