Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2020
ReviewRacial/Ethnic Disparities in Sleep Health and Potential Interventions Among Women in the United States.
While essential for health and wellness, the various dimensions of sleep health are generally not equitably distributed across the population, and reasons for racial/ethnic sleep disparities are not fully understood. In this review, we describe racial/ethnic sleep disparities and subsequent implications for health from prior and recently conducted epidemiological and clinical studies as well as the potential sleep interventions presented at the 2018 Research Conference on Sleep and the Health of Women at the National Institutes of Health. Given the clear connection between sleep and poor health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, we concluded that future studies are needed to focus on sleep health in general, sleep disorders such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea in particular, and disparities in both sleep health and sleep disorders among women using an intersectional framework. Future research should also integrate sleep into interventional research focused on women's health as these results could address health disparities by informing, for example, future mobile health (mHealth) interventions prioritizing women beyond the clinical setting.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2020
Utilization and Cost of Mammography Screening Among Commercially Insured Women 50 to 64 Years of Age in the United States, 2012-2016.
Background: In recent years, most insurance plans eliminated cost-sharing for breast cancer screening and recommended screening intervals changed, and newer modalities-digital mammography and breast tomosynthesis-became more widely available. The objectives of this study are to examine how these changes affected utilization, frequency, and costs of breast cancer screening among commercially insured women, and to understand factors associated with utilization and frequency of screening. Materials and Methods: This study used commercial insurance claims data for women 50 to 64 years of age, continuously enrolled in commercial insurance plans during 2012-2016. Results: Of the 685,737 eligible women, 20% were not screened, 40% received annual screening, 24% received biennial screening, and 16% were screened less frequently than recommended during the time period examined. Sociodemographic factors such as age <60 years, rurality, and fee-for-service insurance were associated with low screening utilization. ⋯ Digital mammography was the most costly and commonly used modality along with computer-aided detection. Conclusions: Evidence-based interventions to promote screening among women who are screened less frequently are needed along with interventions to move toward biennial screening rather than annual screening. Increasing provider awareness regarding breast cancer screening rates and frequency among various sociodemographic groups is essential to guide provider recommendations and shared decision making. The results of this study can guide targeted public health interventions to reduce barriers to screening, and can also serve as inputs for economic analyses of screening interventions and programs.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2020
ReviewPsychotropic Treatment During Pregnancy: Research Synthesis and Clinical Care Principles.
Background: Psychiatric illnesses are common in women of childbearing age. The perinatal period is a particularly high-risk time for depression, bipolar, and anxiety disorders. Methods: The scope of the public health problem of perinatal mental disorders is discussed followed by an examination of the specific research methods utilized for the study of birth and developmental outcomes associated with maternal mental illness and its treatment. The evidence on exposure to common psychotropics during pregnancy and breastfeeding is reviewed. Results: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor medications are not associated with higher rates of birth defects or long-term changes in mental development after adjustment for confounding factors associated with underlying psychiatric illness. ⋯ Due to the dramatic physiological changes of pregnancy and enhanced hepatic metabolism, drug doses may need to be adjusted during pregnancy to sustain efficacy. Untreated maternal psychiatric illness also carries substantial risks for the mother, fetus, infant, and family. Conclusions: The goal of perinatal mental health treatment is to optimally provide pharmacotherapy to mitigate the somatic and psychosocial burdens of maternal psychiatric disorders. Regular symptom monitoring during pregnancy and postpartum and medication dose adjustments to sustain efficacy constitutes good practice.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialSelf-Hypnosis for Sleep Disturbances in Menopausal Women.
Poor sleep is one of the most frequent health concerns among menopausal women. All stages of sleep can be impacted by the menopause transition. Negative outcomes of poor sleep are multidimensional and include poor physical, psychological, cognition, and social outcomes. ⋯ Overall, the use of self-hypnosis as a treatment program for sleep problems related to menopause was acceptable for women. Data further support that hypnosis is a promising technique to improve sleep in menopausal women with sleep and hot flashes. Further research is ongoing on self-hypnosis delivery and implementation into wider populations of women using clear definition and control groups.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2020
Awareness of Pregnancy-Associated Health Risks Among Pregnant Women and Male Partners Surveyed in a Prenatal Clinic.
Background: Underestimation of pregnancy-associated health risks could compromise informed decision-making and reduce demand for preconception care. We assessed the knowledge of pregnant women and male partners about several health risks posed by pregnancy to identify potential gaps in reproductive health literacy. Materials and Methods: Pregnant women and male partners were surveyed about their knowledge of seven common health risks associated with pregnancy (venous thromboembolism [VTE], diabetes, gallstones, hemorrhoids, hypertension [HTN], kidney infection, and anemia) in either English or Spanish in a prenatal clinic at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California. ⋯ Age, parity, language, gender, and gestational age did not impact study findings. Overall, 77.9% of respondents rated oral birth control pills more hazardous to a woman's health than pregnancy. Conclusions: Surveyed pregnant women and male partners have significant knowledge deficiencies concerning common and serious health hazards associated with pregnancy that may hamper women's ability to make informed choices about their reproductive health options.