Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2018
The National Network of State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives: A Growing Movement to Improve Maternal and Infant Health.
State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) are networks of multidisciplinary teams working to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. To address the shared needs across state PQCs and enable collaboration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in partnership with March of Dimes and perinatal quality improvement experts from across the country, supported the development and launch of the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (NNPQC). This process included assessing the status of PQCs in this country and identifying the needs and resources that would be most useful to support PQC development. ⋯ The number of state PQCs has grown considerably over the past decade, with an active PQC or a PQC in development in almost every state. However, PQCs have some common challenges that need to be addressed. After its successful launch, the NNPQC is positioned to ensure that every state PQC has access to key tools and resources that build capacity to actively improve maternal and infant health outcomes and healthcare quality.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2018
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Estradiol Vaginal Cream 0.003% in Postmenopausal Women with Vaginal Dryness as the Most Bothersome Symptom.
Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is characterized by vaginal/vulvar dryness, irritation, dyspareunia, or dysuria. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of a very low-dose estradiol vaginal cream (0.003%) applied twice per week in postmenopausal women with VVA-related vaginal dryness. ⋯ Very low-dose estradiol vaginal cream (0.003%) dosed twice weekly is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for VVA symptoms and dryness associated with menopause.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2018
Sex Differences in the Psychometric Properties of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a well-known, validated, and reliable instrument used to measure the clinical construct of sleep quality. Little research has been done to measure its psychometric properties by sex. Previous researchers have established the validity of a three-factor structure, but it is unknown whether it applies to both men and women equally. ⋯ This study confirms a three-factor structure as previously suggested; however, "perceived sleep quality" may load differently depending on the sex being examined. This result suggests that men and women may interpret what is meant by "overall sleep quality" differently.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2018
The Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium: A Transdisciplinary Approach Toward Promoting Bladder Health and Preventing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Women Across the Life Course.
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent in women, and are expected to impose a growing burden to individuals and society as the population ages. The predominance of research related to LUTS has focused on underlying pathology, disease mechanisms, or the efficacy of treatments for women with LUTS. ⋯ The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) introduced the concept of prevention as an important priority for women's urologic research as a prelude to supporting the formation of the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) research consortium. In this article, we introduce the PLUS research consortium to the scientific community; share the innovative paradigms by which the consortium operates; and describe its unique research mission: to identify factors that promote bladder health across the life course and prevent the onset of LUTS in girls and women.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2018
Sexual Violence and Intimate Partner Violence in College Women with a Mental Health and/or Behavior Disability.
We address questions about (1) how college women with a disability experience sexual violence (SV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) across partners, including disability-specific abuse and (2) how SV/IPV impacts psychological, behavioral, physical, and academic life domains. ⋯ Our results underscore the need for continued investment in campus programs that improve response to SV/IPV, including prevention programs and support services tailored to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of women with underlying mental health conditions.