Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2008
ReviewThe reciprocal effects of eating disorders and the postpartum period: a review of the literature and recommendations for clinical care.
This paper examines the areas of psychological and physiological concern when working with patients who have eating disorders as they move through the postpartum period. These concerns include infant feeding, maternal-child bonding, and postpartum adjustment. The combination of psychological stressors of new motherhood and body image concerns intensified by the residual bodily changes of pregnancy may predispose women to have an exacerbation in eating disordered symptoms as well as the development of postpartum mood disorders. ⋯ A multidisciplinary approach is recommended for treating eating disorders and related conditions. Unfortunately, there is little information about the efficacy and appropriateness of standard eating disorder treatments for women in the postpartum period. In addition to reviewing the literature, guidance is offered on how to assess and treat patients with eating disorders in general as well as considerations specific to the postpartum period.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2008
Accessing care: use of a specialized women's emergency care facility for nonemergent problems.
Given the problem of emergency room overcrowding, this study was designed to examine factors associated with women seeking treatment for medically nonemergent conditions in a primarily obstetric and gynecologic emergency facility. ⋯ Although women with nonemergent medical conditions who came to a specialized emergency facility for care had a usual source of medical care, that source of care was not always accessible or available to them.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2008
Gender differences in research grant applications and funding outcomes for medical school faculty.
To evaluate whether there were differences in acquisition of research grant support between male and female faculty at eight Harvard Medical School-affiliated institutions. ⋯ Gender disparity in grant funding is largely explained by gender disparities in academic rank. Controlling for rank, women and men were equally successful in acquiring grants. However, gender differences in grant application behavior at lower academic ranks also contribute to gender disparity in grant funding for medical science.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2008
Comparative StudyLipid-lowering medication use and aggression scores in women: a report from the NHLBI-sponsored WISE study.
The aim of this study was to examine the association between the use of lipid-lowering medication and aggressive responding, hostility, cynicism, and depression scores in women undergoing coronary angiography. ⋯ Compared to those not on lipid-lowering medication, women receiving lipid-lowering pharmacotherapy were older (62 vs. 55 years, p < 0.001) and had more hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and coronary artery disease (CAD, defined as > or =50% stenoses in at least one epicardial artery) (all p < 0.003). Women on lipid-lowering medication had higher aggressive responding scores than those not on medication, 3.0 +/- 1.8 vs. 2.7 +/- 1.7, respectively (age-adjusted p < 0.003). This association persisted after adjustment for coronary risk factors, education, and extent of angiographic disease (CAD) (p < 0.005), and after exclusion of women using psychotropic medications (p < 0.001). Hostility, cynicism, and depression scores did not differ by medication use.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2008
Comparative StudyDoes gender discrimination impact regular mammography screening? Findings from the race differences in screening mammography study.
ABSTRACT Objective: To determine if gender discrimination, conceptualized as a negative life stressor, is a deterrent to adherence to mammography screening guidelines. ⋯ Our findings suggest that gender discrimination can adversely influence regular mammography screening in some women. With nearly half of women nonadherent to screening mammography guidelines in this study and with decreasing mammography rates nationwide, it is important to address the complexity of nonadherence across subgroups of women. Life stressors, such as experiences of gender discrimination, may have considerable consequences, potentially influencing health prevention prioritization in women.