PLUS Loyola Clinical Center

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 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The PLUS Loyola Clinical Center (PLUS-LCC) is a well-organized, experienced, collaborative team that has been designed to robustly contribute to the goals of the PLUS network. With depth and breadth of research expertise, PLUS-LCC plans four, well- integrated studies that map onto an interdependent ecological level of LUTS influence and facilitate examination of within-study and cross-study consideration of risk and protective factors. The PLUS-LCC will optimize these valuable research cohorts through the use of an overlapping subsample of study participants and mixed-methodological approaches. In the proposed PLUS-LCC studies, we will explore the community, cultural context by engaging in a Chicago-wide participatory, mixed methodological community-based Pelvic Health Assessment by conducting the first Chicago LUTS and community health survey, first large scale qualitative study on community members pelvic health perceptions, behaviors and knowledge groups, and conduct landscape assessment to characterize Chicago's health care system where women interface. PLUS-LCC will also examine individual-level influences and behavior through the study of urinary microbiome variability and comparison of individual behaviors, assess musculoskeletal milleu in lower-and back pain to determine its association with LUTS; and investigate relationship-level influence to locate LUTS discussion patterns, vertically among generations and horizontally among peers. As a strong contributor for PLUS, the Loyola Clinical Center contributes expertise in study concept, design, conduct, analysis and dissemination. Our collaborative approach will help bring out the best in other PLUS investigators, as they will for us. The PLUS network has the opportunity to make advances in the long understudied role of LUTS prevention.