A Multiethnic Internet Study on Menopausal Symptoms

描述(由申请人提供)：美国人口种族多样性的增加要求卫生专业人员在更年期症状管理等领域具有更强的文化能力，在这些领域，文化信仰调节着生殖和衰老的生物学。越来越多的研究表明，女性经历更年期症状的方式存在显著的种族差异，从而挑战了更年期症状的普遍性。然而，很少有研究人员对美国的种族人口进行研究，也很少有研究是全国性的。随着计算机技术的进步，互联网现在为国内和国际交流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。这项拟议的研究使用创新的互联网数据收集方法，在尊重女性自身经历的同时，收集关于更年期症状体验的特定种族差异的国家数据和基本信息。具体目的是：a)探索美国4个最常见的种族妇女(西班牙裔、非西班牙裔(N-H)白人、N-H非裔美国人和N-H亚裔)报告的更年期症状体验的种族差异；以及b)探索影响女性自我报告更年期症状体验的日常生活中特定种族的背景。女权主义方法将指导研究过程。将使用创新的数据收集方法，包括通过各种互联网环境，采用配额抽样法，通过多种招聘策略招募500名中年妇女进行互联网调查，并从互联网调查参与者中招募4个不同种族群体(每组30名成员)为期6个月的在线论坛。长期目标是：(A)促进对妇女自身更年期症状经历的认识，以便能够从妇女自己的观点和观点规划和提供保健；(B)开发可在不同实践环境中验证的更年期症状管理决策支持系统；(C)消除更年期症状管理方面的族裔偏见和不平等，促进对更年期妇女的文化能力的护理。

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.