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，要求卫生专业人员在诸如管理更年期症状等领域具有更大的文化能力，在这些领域，文化信仰调解了生殖和衰老的生物学。越来越多的研究对更年期症状的普遍性提出了挑战，表明妇女在经历更年期症状方面存在显著的种族差异。然而，很少有研究者研究美国的少数民族人口，也很少有研究是在全国范围内进行的。随着计算机技术的进步，因特网现在为国内和国际交流提供了一种极好的媒介，使不同地理区域的人们能够进行交流和交换他们的经验和意见。本研究采用创新的互联网数据收集方法，在尊重妇女自身经验的同时，收集有关绝经期症状经历的具体民族差异的国家数据和基本信息。具体目的是：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）白人，N-H非洲裔美国人和N-H亚洲人）报告的绝经期症状经历的种族差异；b)探索影响女性自我报告的更年期症状经历的女性日常生活的特定种族背景。女权主义方法将指导研究过程。将采用创新的数据收集方式，采用定额抽样的方法，通过多种网络设置，对500名中年妇女进行网络调查，并在网络调查参与者中招募4个不同民族（每组30人），进行为期6个月的在线论坛。长期目标是：a)促进认识妇女自身的更年期症状经历，以便能够从妇女自己的观点和角度规划和提供保健；B)开发绝经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；c)消除更年期症状管理中的种族偏见和不平等，促进对更年期妇女的文化胜任护理。

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.