Journal of women's health
-
Journal of women's health · Oct 2010
Differences in editorial board reviewer behavior based on gender.
Reports indicate that there are gender-based differences in aspects of the peer-review process. ⋯ There are differences based on gender of editorial board members' recommendations about manuscript triage, turnaround time, and editors' grades assigned. Overall, however, these differences do not affect editors' ultimate decisions about manuscript publication.
-
Journal of women's health · Oct 2010
Predicting obstructive sleep apnea among women candidates for bariatric surgery.
More women than men pursue bariatric surgery for treatment of obesity. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in bariatric patients increases perioperative morbidity and mortality, and, therefore, most bariatric surgeons screen for OSA with polysomnography (PSG). We sought to develop a model for predicting OSA in women seeking bariatric surgery in order to use this diagnostic resource most efficiently. ⋯ OSA is highly prevalent in symptomatic and asymptomatic women planning bariatric surgery for obesity. Best prediction models based on clinical characteristics did not predict disease severity under conditions superior to those in which they might be applied. In light of the perioperative risks associated with OSA in bariatric patients, all women considering bariatric surgery for obesity should be evaluated for OSA with PSG.
-
Journal of women's health · Oct 2010
Family violence exposure and health outcomes among older African American women: do spirituality and social support play protective roles?
Family violence (FV), spirituality, and social support are salient psychosocial determinants of health. FV is associated with poor health among older African American women. The effect of spirituality and social support levels on the health of older African American women is unknown. ⋯ Spirituality and social support are two potentially modifiable determinants of health for older African American women. Culturally appropriate mechanisms to enhance social support and spirituality levels need to be explored as potential inteventions to improve the health of those African American women who have been exposed to FV.
-
Journal of women's health · Oct 2010
"something we'd rather not talk about": findings from CDC exploratory research on sexually transmitted disease communication with girls and women.
Chlamydia is a leading cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Annual Chlamydia screening is recommended for all sexually active women aged ≤ 25 years, yet only about 40% of eligible women are screened each year in the United States. To promote Chlamydia screening for the prevention of infertility, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is developing direct-to-consumer efforts for sexually active young women and key influencers. To inform this effort, CDC sought to explore girls'/women's understandings of sexually transmitted disease (STD) and Chlamydia testing and STD communications and information sources. ⋯ Providers, family members, friends, and partners may serve as important intermediaries for reaching young women and encouraging STD/Chlamydia screening. Resources are identified that could be leveraged and/or developed to facilitate such interactions.