Does Menopause Matter?

描述(由申请人提供)：本建议旨在为Rachel Hess博士提供研究经验和分析技能，使其成为一名独立的卫生服务研究员，重点关注妇女的健康和与健康相关的生活质量(HRQOL)。她将在妇女健康和健康服务研究方面的奖学金培训的基础上，通过正规的课程工作来提高她在流行病学和调查技术、经济理论和卫生服务利用(HSU)的确定方面的技能，并指导她在HRQOL、HSU和统计技术方面的学习。她得到了医学部、普通内科和医疗保健研究中心的支持，并得到了杰出导师的承诺：罗伯塔·内斯医学博士、凯伦·马修斯博士和Wishwa Kapoor医学博士。在导师的帮助下，赫斯博士将研究更年期和荷尔蒙治疗对HRQOL和HSU的影响。 随着年龄的增长，绝经对所有女性都有影响，但其对HRQOL和HSU的影响尚未完全阐明。在接下来的10年里，50%的美国人口将处于或进入更年期。仅在1997年，美国人就在替代医疗疗法上花费了超过210亿美元。更年期替代疗法的使用没有得到很好的量化。鉴于最近有证据表明激素治疗对更年期的有害影响以及进入更年期的妇女人数，量化替代药物的使用并调查其对HRQOL和HSU的影响是至关重要的。本研究考察了：1)绝经对HRQOL的影响；2)更年期替代疗法的使用及其对HRQOL的影响；3)绝经对HSU的影响。为了实现这些目标，这项研究采用了一种新颖的计算机化数据收集系统。 这项研究将为未来的研究提供背景，包括非传统治疗对HRQOL和HSU的影响的随机试验。它将促进候选人转变为独立的卫生服务研究人员，研究生物和社会学因素对HRQOL和HSU的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal is designed to provide Dr. Rachel Hess with the research experience and analytic skills to become an independent health services researcher emphasizing women's health and health related quality of life (HRQOL). She will build on fellowship training in women's health and health services research with formal course work designed to increase her skills in epidemiologic and survey techniques, economic theory, and ascertainment of health services utilization (HSU) and directed study in HRQOL, HSU, and statistical techniques. She has the support of the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, and Center for Research on Health Care as well as the commitment of exceptional mentors: Roberta Ness, MD, MPH; Karen Matthews, PhD; and Wishwa Kapoor, MD, MPH. With her mentors' assistance, Dr. Hess will study the impact of menopause and hormonal therapy on HRQOL and HSU. Menopause affects all women as they age, yet its affect on HRQOL and HSU is not fully elucidated. Over the next 10 years, 50% of the United States population will be in or entering menopause. In 1997 alone, Americans spent over $21 billion on alternative medical therapies. Use of alternative therapies in menopause is not well quantified. Given the recent evidence of harmful effects of hormone therapy in menopause and the number of women entering menopause, quantifying alternative medication use and investigating its effect on HRQOL and HSU are essential. This study examines the: 1) effect of menopause on HRQOL; 2) use of alternative therapy for menopause and its effects on HRQOL; and 3) impact of menopause on HSU. To accomplish these goals, this study employs a novel, computerized data collection system. This research will develop a context for future studies, including randomized trials of the impact of non-traditional treatments on HRQOL and HSU. It will facilitate the candidate's transition to an independent health services researcher examining the impact of biologic and sociologic factors on HRQOL and HSU.