A Multiethnic Internet Study on Menopausal Symptoms

描述（由申请人提供）：美国人口的种族多样性日益增加，这要求卫生专业人员在管理更年期症状等领域具有更强的文化能力，其中文化信仰介导了生殖和衰老的生物学。越来越多的研究对绝经期症状的普遍性提出了挑战，指出妇女在经历这些症状方面存在显着的种族差异。然而，很少有研究人员研究美国的种族人口，很少有全国范围的研究。随着计算机技术的进步，互联网现在为国家和国际通信提供了一个极好的媒介，使不同地理区域的人们能够沟通和交流他们的经验和意见。拟议的研究采用创新的互联网数据收集方法，收集全国性的数据和必要的信息，具体的种族差异，更年期症状的经验，同时尊重妇女自己的经验。具体目标是：a）探索美国4个最常见的女性种族群体（西班牙裔、非西班牙裔（N-H）白色、N-H非裔美国人和N-H亚洲人）报告的绝经期症状经历的种族差异;和B）探索影响女性自我报告的绝经期症状经历的女性日常生活的种族特异性背景。一个女权主义的方法将指导研究过程。将采用创新的数据收集方法，包括对500名中年妇女进行互联网调查，调查采用配额抽样方法，通过各种互联网环境采用多种征聘战略，并在从互联网调查参与者中征聘的4个不同族裔群体（每组30名成员）中举办为期6个月的在线论坛。长期目标是：a）帮助认识妇女自己的更年期症状经历，以便能够从妇女自己的观点和角度规划和提供保健; B）开发更年期症状管理的决策支持系统，该系统可以在不同的实践环境中得到验证;以及c）消除更年期症状管理中的种族偏见和不平等，并促进对更年期妇女的文化上合格的护理。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Increasing ethnic diversity of the U.S. population requires health professionals to practice with greater cultural competence in areas such as the management of menopausal symptoms, where cultural beliefs mediate the biology of reproduction and aging. A growing number of studies have challenged the universality of menopausal symptoms by indicating significant ethnic differences in how women experience them. However, few investigators have studied ethnic populations in the U.S., and few studies have been national in scope. With advances in computer technologies, the Internet now provides an excellent medium of national and international communication and allows people in different geographical areas to communicate and exchange their experiences and opinions. The proposed study uses innovative Internet data collection methods to collect national data and essential information about specific ethnic differences in menopausal symptom experience while respecting women's own experiences. The specific aims are to: a) explore ethnic differences in menopausal symptom experience reported by 4 of the most common ethnic groups of women across the U.S. (Hispanic, non-Hispanic (N-H) White, N-H African American, and N-H Asian); and b) explore the ethnic-specific contexts of women's daily lives that influence women's self-reported menopausal symptom experience. A feminist approach will guide the research process. Innovative data collection methods will be used, including an Internet survey among 500 middle-aged women recruited using the quota sampling method with multiple recruitment strategies through various Internet settings, and online forums of 6-month duration among 4 different ethnic groups (30 members per group) recruited from among the Internet survey participants. Long-term goals are to: a) contribute to recognition of women's own menopausal symptom experience so that health care can be planned and provided from women's own views and perspectives; b) develop decision support systems for menopausal symptom management that can be validated across diverse practice settings; and c) eliminate ethnic biases and inequity in menopausal symptom management and promote culturally competent care for menopausal women.