A picture may be worth a thousand words, but for women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, a picture can help them deal with the challenges of living with the virus.
A University of Missouri researcher is completing a pilot project during which women living with HIV take photos to document their lives. The photos are used to engage women in critical discussions about their lives, identifying both social, mental, and physical challenges and possible solutions for the women. The photos will be presented at two special events. The first event will be held on March 3-6 in Columbia at the True/False Film Festival. The second event will be held on March 19 in St. Louis at the Regional Arts Commission to commemorate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
"Women with HIV face more challenges than most intervention programs are designed to address," said Michelle Teti, assistant professor of health psychology in the MU School of Health Professions. "These women need to discuss more issues than merely how to have safe sex. Many live in poverty, with substandard housing and abusive partners. Helping women understand and address these issues is what this project is all about."
At the beginning of each project, Teti meets with the women as a group, gives each woman a digital camera, and instructs the women to go home and document their lives. Two weeks later, the group reconvenes, and each woman presents a few photos while discussing the meanings of the images. The women spend two additional weeks documenting their lives and reconvene to discuss the photos again, and plan a photo exhibit to share their work and ideas with others. Following the upcoming photo exhibitions, Teti plans to meet with the women to better understand the effect the project has had on their health.
Prior to coming to MU, Teti completed a similar project in Philadelphia. She presented the project's results at the American Public Health Association Conference last year.
"In Philadelphia, women used the photos to express themselves in different ways," Teti said. "Some women chose to combat the stereotype of what someone with HIV looks like by taking pictures of themselves looking beautiful and healthy. Another woman chose to take pictures of broken kitchen appliances and substandard living conditions to detail her horrible housing situation and used the pictures to advocate for help."
Teti said some women do not realize how dire their situations are until they document and discuss them. By realizing their problems, many women are able to resolve some issues. For example, the woman who depicted her difficult housing situation showed them to community members, who helped her find new housing.
Teti is working on the project through a grant from the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Training Program for Scientists Conducting Research to Reduce HIV/STI Health Disparities.
Source:
Christian Basi
University of Missouri-Columbia
четверг, 26 апреля 2012 г.
четверг, 19 апреля 2012 г.
Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor Resumes Meetings With Senators; Confirmation Vote Still Unclear
Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, on Thursday will hold a third round of private meetings with senators who will be voting on her confirmation, the AP/Chicago Tribune reports. The AP/Tribune reports that by Friday, Sotomayor will have met with more than one-quarter of the Senate and a majority of members on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will lead an as-yet-unscheduled set of hearings for her confirmation.
The Judiciary Committee is expected to receive and examine a large collection of documents for the hearings -- including Sotomayor's writings, speeches and unpublished rulings -- as part of a questionnaire response on personal and financial data, possible conflicts of interest and the procedure that led to her nomination. According to the AP/Tribune, the White House in recent days has been rallying support for Sotomayor, with first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday talking about the nominee at a high school graduation (Hirschfeld Davis, AP/Chicago Tribune, 6/4).
Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) on Wednesday failed to reach an agreement on a timeline for Sotomayor's confirmation hearings and vote, CongressDaily reports. According to CongressDaily, Democrats and Republicans generally are "at odds" over the issue, particularly over when the confirmation hearings should start (Friedman, CongressDaily, 6/3). Leahy said that he would like hearings to begin next month, with the goal of scheduling a confirmation vote before the month-long congressional recess that begins in early August. Sessions has called for the process to be spread out over the summer to allow committee members to analyze the large volume of Sotomayor's records, with hearings beginning in September (AP/Chicago Tribune, 6/4).
Leahy -- who will have the final say on the start of the hearings -- on Tuesday said that "it would be irresponsible to leave [Sotomayor] hanging out there" until September (CongressDaily, 6/3).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
The Judiciary Committee is expected to receive and examine a large collection of documents for the hearings -- including Sotomayor's writings, speeches and unpublished rulings -- as part of a questionnaire response on personal and financial data, possible conflicts of interest and the procedure that led to her nomination. According to the AP/Tribune, the White House in recent days has been rallying support for Sotomayor, with first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday talking about the nominee at a high school graduation (Hirschfeld Davis, AP/Chicago Tribune, 6/4).
Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) on Wednesday failed to reach an agreement on a timeline for Sotomayor's confirmation hearings and vote, CongressDaily reports. According to CongressDaily, Democrats and Republicans generally are "at odds" over the issue, particularly over when the confirmation hearings should start (Friedman, CongressDaily, 6/3). Leahy said that he would like hearings to begin next month, with the goal of scheduling a confirmation vote before the month-long congressional recess that begins in early August. Sessions has called for the process to be spread out over the summer to allow committee members to analyze the large volume of Sotomayor's records, with hearings beginning in September (AP/Chicago Tribune, 6/4).
Leahy -- who will have the final say on the start of the hearings -- on Tuesday said that "it would be irresponsible to leave [Sotomayor] hanging out there" until September (CongressDaily, 6/3).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
четверг, 12 апреля 2012 г.
Gender Bender, Do Gender Knee Implants Provide Better Outcomes?
A gender-specific total knee prosthesis was developed to more closely match the anatomy of the female knee, aiming to be a better fit resulting in better outcomes for women. However, a recent study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) found that 85 women who received a gender-specific implant in one knee and a standard prosthesis in the other knee found no clinical benefits of the gender-specific knee.
"We conducted this study to investigate whether women derive less benefit, or perhaps less predictable benefit, from total knee replacement using a standard conventional total knee implant," said Young-Hoo Kim, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon and lead author of the study.
After receiving knee implants one gender-specific and one standard prosthesis the women were assessed for at least two years after surgery. The knees with the gender-specific implant and the knees with the standard implant had similar knee scores and similar range of motion while lying down (125 degrees for the knees with standard implants and 126 degrees for the knees with gender-specific implants). All patients except three were able to bend their knees at least 90 degrees.
Additionally, patient satisfaction with the implants was similar (8.3 points for the standard implants and 8.1 points for the gender-specific implants). A rating of 6 to 8 meant "satisfied," and a rating of 9 to 10 meant "fully satisfied."
Important findings included:
-- The majority of women in the study (71 females or 84 percent) had no preference between the two implants
-- eight women (9 percent) preferred the standard prosthesis, and
-- six (7 percent) preferred the gender-specific prosthesis.
Implantation prostheses of either design resulted in improved quality of life in terms of pain, walking distance, deformity, and function after surgery.
Although the gender-specific implants were specially designed to fit women, Dr. Kim's study showed that the standard prostheses fit women's knees better than the gender-specific implants. "Our data demonstrated that the standard prosthesis fit the distal part of the femur (where the thigh and knee connect) better than the gender-specific prosthesis did," said Dr. Kim, who is from The Joint Replacement Center of Korea, Ewha Women's University School of Medicine in South Korea. The gender-specific prosthesis was so small that it exposed more bone, which resulted in increased bleeding immediately after surgery.
Dr. Kim and his colleagues were surprised by the study results. "We indeed expected the gender-specific prostheses to outperform the standard prostheses," he said.
Because the women in the study did not have any clinical benefit from the gender-specific knee implants, Dr. Kim now recommends that women receive a properly sized standard total knee prosthesis. "We have learned that gender-specific total knee prostheses fail to show any clinical benefits. So, we feel that proper size standard total knee prostheses are needed for both men and women," he added.
Although patients were only followed for approximately two years, studies have shown that results after two years are similar to those seen five to ten years after total knee replacement. "Because the duration of follow-up was short, we can draw no conclusions about the advantage of the gender-specific prosthesis with regard to long-term function," Dr. Kim concluded.
Disclosure: The authors did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of their research for or preparation of this work. Neither they nor a member of their immediate families received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity.
Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
"We conducted this study to investigate whether women derive less benefit, or perhaps less predictable benefit, from total knee replacement using a standard conventional total knee implant," said Young-Hoo Kim, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon and lead author of the study.
After receiving knee implants one gender-specific and one standard prosthesis the women were assessed for at least two years after surgery. The knees with the gender-specific implant and the knees with the standard implant had similar knee scores and similar range of motion while lying down (125 degrees for the knees with standard implants and 126 degrees for the knees with gender-specific implants). All patients except three were able to bend their knees at least 90 degrees.
Additionally, patient satisfaction with the implants was similar (8.3 points for the standard implants and 8.1 points for the gender-specific implants). A rating of 6 to 8 meant "satisfied," and a rating of 9 to 10 meant "fully satisfied."
Important findings included:
-- The majority of women in the study (71 females or 84 percent) had no preference between the two implants
-- eight women (9 percent) preferred the standard prosthesis, and
-- six (7 percent) preferred the gender-specific prosthesis.
Implantation prostheses of either design resulted in improved quality of life in terms of pain, walking distance, deformity, and function after surgery.
Although the gender-specific implants were specially designed to fit women, Dr. Kim's study showed that the standard prostheses fit women's knees better than the gender-specific implants. "Our data demonstrated that the standard prosthesis fit the distal part of the femur (where the thigh and knee connect) better than the gender-specific prosthesis did," said Dr. Kim, who is from The Joint Replacement Center of Korea, Ewha Women's University School of Medicine in South Korea. The gender-specific prosthesis was so small that it exposed more bone, which resulted in increased bleeding immediately after surgery.
Dr. Kim and his colleagues were surprised by the study results. "We indeed expected the gender-specific prostheses to outperform the standard prostheses," he said.
Because the women in the study did not have any clinical benefit from the gender-specific knee implants, Dr. Kim now recommends that women receive a properly sized standard total knee prosthesis. "We have learned that gender-specific total knee prostheses fail to show any clinical benefits. So, we feel that proper size standard total knee prostheses are needed for both men and women," he added.
Although patients were only followed for approximately two years, studies have shown that results after two years are similar to those seen five to ten years after total knee replacement. "Because the duration of follow-up was short, we can draw no conclusions about the advantage of the gender-specific prosthesis with regard to long-term function," Dr. Kim concluded.
Disclosure: The authors did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of their research for or preparation of this work. Neither they nor a member of their immediate families received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity.
Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
четверг, 5 апреля 2012 г.
HHS Approves California Plan To Expand Coverage To Unborn Children
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today approved a proposal by California to extend health care coverage to pregnant women and their unborn children with family incomes of up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. The state currently covers children ages 0-19 with family incomes of up to 250 percent of poverty.
The state estimates that 123,052 pregnant women and their unborn children will be eligible for coverage under this expansion of its State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
"This new coverage will give California children a healthy start by providing access to prenatal care," Secretary Leavitt said. "Prenatal care can be a life-long determinant of health and we should do everything possible to make this care available to everyone."
Coverage of this type was authorized by a 2003 HHS regulation that defines a child as an individual under the age of 19 including the period from conception to birth.
"Prenatal care is one of the most effective ways to prevent low birth weight, premature delivery and other health problems that can be permanently disabling," said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. "Eight states have now expanded prenatal care services to more women, and we are ready to work with other states on similar programs to improve maternal and child health."
The federal poverty level for an individual for 2006 is $9,800 and $20,000 for a family of four.
California is the eighth state to adopt this policy. Other states include: Arkansas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Washington.
hhs
The state estimates that 123,052 pregnant women and their unborn children will be eligible for coverage under this expansion of its State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
"This new coverage will give California children a healthy start by providing access to prenatal care," Secretary Leavitt said. "Prenatal care can be a life-long determinant of health and we should do everything possible to make this care available to everyone."
Coverage of this type was authorized by a 2003 HHS regulation that defines a child as an individual under the age of 19 including the period from conception to birth.
"Prenatal care is one of the most effective ways to prevent low birth weight, premature delivery and other health problems that can be permanently disabling," said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. "Eight states have now expanded prenatal care services to more women, and we are ready to work with other states on similar programs to improve maternal and child health."
The federal poverty level for an individual for 2006 is $9,800 and $20,000 for a family of four.
California is the eighth state to adopt this policy. Other states include: Arkansas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Washington.
hhs
четверг, 29 марта 2012 г.
AWHONN Wins Three Awards For Superior Publications
The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is proud to announce it has won three awards in the 2007 "Association Trends" All-Media Contest. The annual contest is held to recognize the print, online, broadcast, electronic and audio/visual media work of associations nationwide.
AWHONN received the following:
- GOLD prize in the Informational/Promotional Piece category for the three-piece, "You Shall Find a Job!???? Fairy Godmother direct mail campaign for the Nursing Career Center. The campaign featured the Ella's story, from her graduation from nursing school through major milestones in her career. At each stage of her career, Ella's fairy godmother is on hand, advising her to visit www.NursingCareerCenter as she thought about new opportunities. The goal of the campaign was to build awareness for the Nursing Career Center as an online employment resource for nurses.
- SILVER prize in the Convention Registration Promotional Package category, for the 2007 Annual Convention Preliminary Program and collateral marketing pieces: "What Inspires You.???? The 2007 AWHONN convention theme was "Inspired to Excellence???? The campaign had a web-based interactive element in which people could submit what inspires them as a nurse and could see what other nurses had submitted to motivate and celebrate excellence among AWHONN members.
- BRONZE prize in the Catalog category, for the 2007 Resources Catalog. The AWHONN Resource Catalog underwent a major redesign in 2007, expanding the interior layout to highlight flagship products and adding more graphics and product photo displays. This attracted not only to add visual interest, but also gave customers a sense of the design, content and quality of the products in which they were interested.
AWHONN submitted only these entries and won in three of 28 categories among more than 400 entries. The list of winners appeared in the December 7, 2007 issue of Association Trends magazine.
About AWHONN
The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) was founded in 1969 and is the foremost nursing authority that advances the health care of women and newborns through advocacy, research and the creation of high quality, evidence-based standards of care.
AWHONN's 22,000 members worldwide are clinicians, educators and executives who serve as patient care advocates focusing on the needs of women and infants. A leader in professional development, AWHONN is the first and only association to be awarded the designation Premier Provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for innovation and excellence in Continuing Education.
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
AWHONN received the following:
- GOLD prize in the Informational/Promotional Piece category for the three-piece, "You Shall Find a Job!???? Fairy Godmother direct mail campaign for the Nursing Career Center. The campaign featured the Ella's story, from her graduation from nursing school through major milestones in her career. At each stage of her career, Ella's fairy godmother is on hand, advising her to visit www.NursingCareerCenter as she thought about new opportunities. The goal of the campaign was to build awareness for the Nursing Career Center as an online employment resource for nurses.
- SILVER prize in the Convention Registration Promotional Package category, for the 2007 Annual Convention Preliminary Program and collateral marketing pieces: "What Inspires You.???? The 2007 AWHONN convention theme was "Inspired to Excellence???? The campaign had a web-based interactive element in which people could submit what inspires them as a nurse and could see what other nurses had submitted to motivate and celebrate excellence among AWHONN members.
- BRONZE prize in the Catalog category, for the 2007 Resources Catalog. The AWHONN Resource Catalog underwent a major redesign in 2007, expanding the interior layout to highlight flagship products and adding more graphics and product photo displays. This attracted not only to add visual interest, but also gave customers a sense of the design, content and quality of the products in which they were interested.
AWHONN submitted only these entries and won in three of 28 categories among more than 400 entries. The list of winners appeared in the December 7, 2007 issue of Association Trends magazine.
About AWHONN
The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) was founded in 1969 and is the foremost nursing authority that advances the health care of women and newborns through advocacy, research and the creation of high quality, evidence-based standards of care.
AWHONN's 22,000 members worldwide are clinicians, educators and executives who serve as patient care advocates focusing on the needs of women and infants. A leader in professional development, AWHONN is the first and only association to be awarded the designation Premier Provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for innovation and excellence in Continuing Education.
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
четверг, 22 марта 2012 г.
Yeovil District Hospital Offering Women Sutureless Surgery For Vaginal Hysterectomies - England
Yeovil District Hospital is the first hospital in the South West of England to be able to offer women sutureless surgery for vaginal hysterectomies.
Thanks to the purchase of a new diathermy machine surgeons can now perform day case vaginal hysterectomies.
Consultant gynaecologist, Sharif Ismail said: "This is a new era in gynaecological surgical techniques and will reduce the operating time and the risks to the patient, reduce bleeding, the amount of pain relief which needs to be given after the operation and the post-operative stay. This not only benefits the patient but frees beds to enable the hospital to continue to reduce its waiting lists.
"Feedback from patients who participated in the trial phase was very positive and this prompted the hospital to introduce the technique to improve both health care and patient satisfaction."
Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides acute care for a population of about 180,000, mostly in South Somerset, North and West Dorset, and parts of Mendip. Increasingly, however, patients are using patient choice and deciding to come to YDH from as far afield as London and Portsmouth.
Each year more than 30,000 patients are admitted as inpatients or day cases; more than 90,000 people attend outpatient appointments; around 40,000 people are treated in Accident and Emergency; and some 1,300 babies are born in the Maternity Unit. The Foundation Trust has over 7,000 members and over 1,800 staff.
Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Thanks to the purchase of a new diathermy machine surgeons can now perform day case vaginal hysterectomies.
Consultant gynaecologist, Sharif Ismail said: "This is a new era in gynaecological surgical techniques and will reduce the operating time and the risks to the patient, reduce bleeding, the amount of pain relief which needs to be given after the operation and the post-operative stay. This not only benefits the patient but frees beds to enable the hospital to continue to reduce its waiting lists.
"Feedback from patients who participated in the trial phase was very positive and this prompted the hospital to introduce the technique to improve both health care and patient satisfaction."
Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides acute care for a population of about 180,000, mostly in South Somerset, North and West Dorset, and parts of Mendip. Increasingly, however, patients are using patient choice and deciding to come to YDH from as far afield as London and Portsmouth.
Each year more than 30,000 patients are admitted as inpatients or day cases; more than 90,000 people attend outpatient appointments; around 40,000 people are treated in Accident and Emergency; and some 1,300 babies are born in the Maternity Unit. The Foundation Trust has over 7,000 members and over 1,800 staff.
Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
четверг, 15 марта 2012 г.
Mo. House Approves Amendment Allowing Pharmacies To Refuse To Stock EC, Medication Abortion Drugs
The Missouri House on Tuesday voted 115-43 to approve an amendment that would allow pharmacies to refuse to dispense emergency contraception or fill prescriptions, the Columbia Missourian reports. According to the Missourian, the bill specifically mentions the emergency contraceptive Plan B, which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse, and mifepristone, which is available by prescription only and used to induce abortion. Mifepristone is only available through a doctor and cannot be distributed by a pharmacy according to the Missourian.
The amendment, sponsored by state Rep. Ed Emery (R), prohibits lawsuits against pharmacies that do not carry the drugs and prevents the state from revoking the licenses of pharmacies that do not supply the medications. FDA recently announced that it would allow individuals ages 17 and older to purchase Plan B without a prescription (Wire, Columbia Missourian, 4/28). In addition, the amendment stipulates that pharmacies would not be required to advise people on how to obtain the medications. Current Missouri law does not address whether pharmacies must stock the drugs. According to the AP/Springfield News-Leader, Missouri's Senate already approved the original bill (S.B 296), which involves professional licensing regulations.
Many Democrats objected to Emery's amendment, arguing that the measure could hinder women's access to EC, especially for women in rural areas (Blank, AP/Springfield News-Leader, 4/28). Some Democrats also said that the amendment is an attempt to control women's bodies. "To implement a law like this, especially in a rural area, seems to me to put another road block before women," state Rep. Mary Still (D) said. According to Emery, the measure is needed to protect pharmacy owners who object to stocking EC and mifepristone (Columbia Missourian, 4/28).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
The amendment, sponsored by state Rep. Ed Emery (R), prohibits lawsuits against pharmacies that do not carry the drugs and prevents the state from revoking the licenses of pharmacies that do not supply the medications. FDA recently announced that it would allow individuals ages 17 and older to purchase Plan B without a prescription (Wire, Columbia Missourian, 4/28). In addition, the amendment stipulates that pharmacies would not be required to advise people on how to obtain the medications. Current Missouri law does not address whether pharmacies must stock the drugs. According to the AP/Springfield News-Leader, Missouri's Senate already approved the original bill (S.B 296), which involves professional licensing regulations.
Many Democrats objected to Emery's amendment, arguing that the measure could hinder women's access to EC, especially for women in rural areas (Blank, AP/Springfield News-Leader, 4/28). Some Democrats also said that the amendment is an attempt to control women's bodies. "To implement a law like this, especially in a rural area, seems to me to put another road block before women," state Rep. Mary Still (D) said. According to Emery, the measure is needed to protect pharmacy owners who object to stocking EC and mifepristone (Columbia Missourian, 4/28).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
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