Awareness and knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) among ethnically diverse women varying in generation status

Although Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection, there is limited knowledge of HPV with ethnic/racial minorities experiencing the greatest disparities. This cross-sectional study used the most recent available data from the California Health Interview Survey to assess disparities in awareness and knowledge of HPV among ethnically/racially diverse women varying in generation status (N = 19,928). Generation status emerged as a significant predictor of HPV awareness across ethnic/racial groups, with 1st generation Asian-Americans and 1st and 2nd generation Latinas reporting the least awareness when compared to same-generation White counterparts. Also, generation status was a significant predictor of HPV knowledge, but only for Asian-Americans. Regardless of ethnicity/race, 1st generation women reported lowest HPV knowledge when compared to 2nd and 3rd generation women. These findings underscore the importance of looking at differences within and across ethnic/racial groups to identify subgroups at greatest risk for poor health outcomes. In particular, we found generation status to be an important yet often overlooked factor in the identification of health disparities.

Effects of compression on lymphoedema during resistance exercise in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema: A randomised, cross-over trial

Background The use of compression garments during exercise is recommended for women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema, but the evidence behind this clinical recommendation is unclear. The aim of this randomised, cross-over trial was to compare the acute effects of wearing versus not wearing compression during a single bout of moderate-load resistance exercise on lymphoedema status and its associated symptoms in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. Methods Twenty-five women with clinically diagnosed, stable unilateral breast cancer-related lymphoedema completed two resistance exercise sessions, one with compression and one without, in a randomised order separated by a 14 day wash-out period. The resistance exercise session consisted of six upper-body exercises, with each exercise performed for three sets at a moderate-load (10-12 repetition maximum). Primary outcome was lymphoedema, assessed using bioimpedance spectroscopy (L-Dex score). Secondary outcomes were lymphoedema as assessed by arm circumferences (percent inter-limb difference and sum-of-circumferences), and symptom severity for pain, heaviness and tightness, measured using visual analogue scales. Measurements were taken pre-, immediately post- and 24 hours post-exercise. Results There was no difference in lymphoedema status (i.e., L-Dex scores) pre- and post-exercise sessions or between the compression and non-compression condition [Mean (SD) for compression pre-, immediately post- and 24 hours post-exercise: 17.7 (21.5), 12.7 (16.2) and 14.1 (16.7), respectively; no compression: 15.3 (18.3), 15.3 (17.8), and 13.4 (16.1), respectively]. Circumference values and symptom severity were stable across time and treatment condition. Conclusions An acute bout of moderate-load, upper-body resistance exercise performed in the absence of compression does not exacerbate lymphoedema in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema.

Paper and electronic antenatal records: What do women and health care providers tell us about their use?

The antenatal paper hand-held record (PHR) has been used extensively in general practice (GP) shared-care management of pregnant women, but recently the antenatal electronic health record (EHR) was introduced. This study aimed to examine the experiences of women and health care providers who use the PHR and the EHR, and find out the relative role of these records in the integration of care. Purposive homogenous samples of women and health care providers were interviewed as users of the PHR in phase 1 and the EHR in phase 2 of the study. Qualitative data were collected via interview with women and GPs and focus groups held with hospital health care providers. Interviews were coded manually and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Fifteen women participated in phase 1 and 12 in phase 2. Seventeen GPs participated in phase 1 and 15 in phase 2. Five focus groups with hospital health care providers were conducted in each phase. Results were categorised into four themes: 1. Record purpose; 2. Perception of the record; 3. Content of the record, and; 4. Sharing information in the record. Both women and health care providers were familiar with the PHR, but identified that some information was missing or not utilised well, and reported underuse of the EHR. The study identified continued widespread use of the PHR and several issues concerning the use of the EHR. An improvement in the strategic implementation of the EHR is suggested as a mechanism to facilitate its wider adoption.

Health and prevention among East African women in the U.S.

African-born individuals in the U.S. face significant health challenges, including low utilization of preventive screening services. Using a community-based participatory research framework, we describe preliminary efforts at establishing a collaborative relationship with the East African communities of San Diego, identifying salient community health needs, and developing a framework for disseminating information and addressing identified health gaps. To this end, 40 East African-born women participated in focus groups with the purpose of eliciting community perspectives on U.S. health care services, beliefs about preventive screening, and to garner recommendations for future outreach. Qualitative analyses identified participants’ desire to engage in primary prevention techniques that incorporated best practices from their home countries and the U.S., and the need for health education programs to provide information on increasingly prevalent chronic diseases. The findings are discussed in connection with continued community-engaged efforts and the implications for health and resettlement policies to reduce inequities disfavoring resettled refugees.

The effects of compression use during exercise in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema

Compelling evidence demonstrates the importance of regular exercise following breast cancer, and this is particularly important for those who develop breast cancer-related lymphoedema. However, fear of lymphoedema exacerbation and the need to wear compression while exercising present as significant barriers for these women. This Master's research evaluated the need for wearing compression during exercise in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. Findings demonstrated that exercise performed without compression does not exacerbate lymphoedema or related symptoms. These findings are clinically relevant as they highlight that compression use during exercise should be prescribed on an individual basis, taking into consideration patient preferences and adherence issues.

Measurement of disordered eating in Latina college women

The Eating Disorder Risk Composite (EDRC) comprises the Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory, Third Edition (EDI-3, Garner, 2004). Past research conducted with Latina college women (LCW) has found older versions of the EDRC subscales to be reliable, but the EDI-3's EDRC factor structure has yet to be studied among LCW. The present study investigated the pattern of responses to and the factor structure of the EDRC in LCW. It was hypothesized that eating pathology would be present and that a factor analysiswould find some discrepancies between the original factor structure of the EDRC and the factor structure from LCW. Analyses of data on a 6-point Likert scale indicate that drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction are far more prevalent than is bulimic symptomology in LCW. Principal Axis Factoring with promax rotation was used to extract three factors very similar to the original EDRC. Some discrepancies in the item loadings were observed, most notably that half of the items from the original Body Dissatisfaction subscale did not load together on one factor. Overall, the EDRC appears to be a goodmeasurement of eating- and body-related phenomena among LCW. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Reality bites: When copyright law and reality cooking meet, only the lawyers win

There’s nothing new about this recipe for success: toss in high-stress scenarios, flavour generously with competitive chefs, and garnish with a panel of celebrity judges. With all major broadcasters in the country now dishing up some form of reality cooking programme, Australians could be forgiven for having lost any expectation of original TV material. But that didn’t stop Channel Seven from taking Channel Nine to court last week, arguing its copyright in My Kitchen Rules had been infringed with Nine’s latest prime-time effort, The Hotplate. After the first few episodes went to air, Seven asked for an injunction to stop Nine from broadcasting any more episodes of the reality show. So let’s look at some common confusions about copyright law and how it relates to reality television. Because in this context, copyright infringement isn’t about shows sharing major similarities, or about protecting ideas, but rather the expression of these ideas in the final product. Still, stretching copyright law to protect the “vibe” of a work isn’t good for artists, TV producers or viewers: copyright was designed to nurture creativity, not stifle it.

Assessing testamentary capacity – who does it better? Lawyers or doctors?

The effects of mentally disabling conditions on legal capacity are escalating, particularly given the ageing Australian demographic. Wills, enduring powers of attorney, and advance health directives are coming to the fore as a means of ensuring that the wishes of people with regard to their property, finances and health care needs are respected should they become legally incapable of making their own decisions. Assessing when a person has lost legal capacity in this context is an ever-increasing concern facing society as a whole but, in particular, the legal and medical professionals conducting the assessments. Empirical and doctrinal research has been undertaken which canvassed legal and medical opinions about the relationship between members of these professions when assessing legal capacity. This research supports the hypothesis that tensions exist when assessing capacity, especially testamentary capacity. One source of tension is the effect of conflicting evidence about the loss of legal capacity given by legal and medical professionals in court, which raises questions such as: which evidence is, and should be, preferred; and who should be responsible? The exploration of these issues will be conducted with reference to the empirical data collected, and a review of the relevant Australian case law.

The purpose and place of mentoring for women managers in organisations: An Australian perspective

Mentoring has been identified as an important career development activity for women managers. Over the last four decades, organisations world-wide have implemented formal mentoring programs for women and for members of minority groups in recognition of the personal and professional benefits mentoring provides, not only for persons who are mentored but also, for those who undertake the mentoring. This chapter reviews the literature on mentoring and the contribution it can make to the career development of women managers. It reviews several inter-related bodies of literature: women’s representation in management positions worldwide; theories and frameworks of mentoring; empirical research exploring the impact of mentoring relationships on women managers’ career development; current illustrations of formal programs offered to women managers in the public and private sectors; and some critical issues that continue to impact women managers in relation to mentoring relationships. The chapter concludes by making an argument for further research on gender and mentoring.

From maternity paper hand-held records to electronic health records: What do women tell us about their use?

The paper hand-held record (PHR) has been used extensively in general practice (GP) shared care management of pregnant women, and recently, the first Mater Shared Electronic Health Record (MSEHR) was introduced. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine women’s experiences using the records and the contribution of the records to integrate care. At the 36-week antenatal visit in a maternity tertiary centre clinic, women were identified as a user of either the PHR or the MSEHR and organised into Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies respectively. Fifteen women were interviewed in Phase 1 and 12 women in Phase 2. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Four main themes were identified: (1) purpose of the record; (2) perceptions of the record; (3) content of the record, and; (4) sharing the record. Findings indicate that the PHR is a well-liked maternity tool. The findings also indicate there is under-usage of the MSEHR due to health-care providers failing to follow up and discuss the option of using the electronic health record option or if a woman has completed the log-in process. This paper adds to an already favourable body of knowledge about the use of the PHR. It is recommended that continued implementation of the MSEHR be undertaken to facilitate its use.

When Japanese law goes pop

Japanese law is going ‘pop’. Since the turn of the century, Japanese popular culture, especially prime-time television, has dedicated more time to legal themes, characters and settings. Lawyers, overwhelmingly women, are the heroes in both dramatic and comedic television series (Nakamura, 2007). Courtroom battles are the scene for plot developments (Ishikawa, 2004). Practising lawyers are the new celebrities, joining actors and singers on the light entertainment talk show circuit. To be sure, law is not a new thematic preoccupation on Japanese network television. Nor is it one that has become so dominant that it overshadows more traditional genres such as workplace romantic comedies, coming-of-age dramas or family soap operas (eg, Dissanayake, 2012, p._194). But, its growing presence on the silver screen in twenty-first-century Japan is a trend that merits analysis. The purpose of this chapter is to explore that socio-legal significance. This presents theoretical and empirical challenges. Theoretically, is there explanatory potential in the link between law and popular culture in Japan? Empirically, does the greater embrace of law-related characters, plots and scenes in prime-time television series since 2001 provide compelling evidence of changing popular attitudes to law and legal process among Japanese viewers? The inspiration for both the title and theme of this chapter comes from Sherwin’s When Law Goes Pop (2000). But it departs from Sherwin in how it defines and analyses the issues. For Sherwin, ‘pop’ means ‘implosion’.

Acute inflammatory response to low-, moderate- and high-load resistance exercise in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema

Background Resistance exercise is emerging as a potential adjunct therapy to aid in the management of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). However, the mechanisms underlying the relationships between the acute and long-term benefits of resistance exercise on BCRL are not well understood. Purpose. To examine the acute inflammatory response to upper-body resistance exercise in women with BCRL and to compare these effects between resistance exercises involving low-, moderate- and high-loads. The impact on lymphoedema status and associated symptoms was also compared. Methods Twenty-one women aged 62 ± 10 years with mild to severe BCRL participated in the study. Participants completed a low-load (15-20 repetition maximum), moderate-load (10-12 repetition maximum) and high-load (6-8 repetition maximum) exercise sessions consisting of three sets of six upper-body resistance exercises. Sessions were completed in a randomized order separated by a seven to 10 day wash-out period. Venous blood samples were obtained to assess markers of exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation (creatine kinase [CK], C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]). Lymphoedema status was assessed using bioimpedance spectroscopy and arm circumferences, and associated symptoms were assessed using visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain, heaviness and tightness. Measurements were conducted before and 24 hours after the exercise sessions. Results No significant changes in CK, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were observed following the low-, moderate- or high-load resistance exercise sessions. There were no significant changes in arm swelling or symptom severity scores across the three resistance exercise conditions. Conclusions The magnitude of acute exercise-induced inflammation following upper-body resistance exercise in women with BCRL does not vary between resistance exercise loads. Given these observations, moderate- to high-load resistance training is recommended for this patient population as these loads prompt superior physiological and functional benefits.

De novo combination therapy adefovir plus lamivudine as a treatment for women of child-bearing age with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B before pregnancy

Substantial progress has been achieved in antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B; however, options for women of child-bearing age with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B remain a challenge. In this study, we sought to determine whether de novo combination therapy of Adefovir plus Lamivudine was a super treatment for women of child-bearing age with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B prior to conception. A total of 122 women patients of child-bearing age with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B were randomly assigned to receive (i) 10 mg Adefovir plus 100 mg Lamivudine (64 patients) or (ii) 10 mg Adefovir monotherapy (58 patients), administrated orally once daily for 96 weeks. The therapeutic efficacy within each group was compared at weeks 48 and 96. The results showed that de novo combination therapy of Adefovir plus Lamivudine significantly reduced HBV-DNA detectability, and enhanced ALT normalization and HBeAg seroconversion in women of child-bearing age with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. No virological breakthrough and genotypic resistance were observed in the combination therapy group. Additionally, the combination therapy with Adefovir plus Lamivudine was well tolerated. This study suggests that de novo combination therapy of Adefovir plus Lamivudine offers a therapeutic advantage for women of child-bearing age with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B when taken before conception.

'As many options as there are, there are just not enough for me': Contraceptive use and barriers to access among Australian women

OBJECTIVE A comprehensive life course perspective of women's experiences in obtaining and using contraception in Australia is lacking. This paper explores free-text comments about contraception provided by women born between 1973 and 1978 who participated in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). METHODS The ALSWH is a national population-based cohort study involving over 40,000 women from three age groups, who are surveyed every three years. An initial search identified 1600 comments from 690 women across five surveys from 1996 (when they were aged 18-23 years) to 2009 (31-36 years). The analysis included 305 comments from 289 participants. Factors relating to experiences of barriers to access and optimal contraceptive use were identified and explored using thematic analysis. RESULTS Five themes recurred across the five surveys as women aged: (i) side effects affecting physical and mental health; (ii) lack of information about contraception; (iii) negative experiences with health services; (iv) contraceptive failure; and (v) difficulty with accessing contraception. CONCLUSION Side effects of hormonal contraception and concerns about contraceptive failure influence women's mental and physical health. Many barriers to effective contraception persist throughout women's reproductive lives. Further research is needed into reducing barriers and minimising negative experiences, to ensure optimal contraceptive access for Australian women.

Runs of homozygosity and a cluster of vulvar cancer in young Australian Aboriginal women

Objective A cluster of vulvar cancer exists in young Aboriginal women living in remote communities in Arnhem Land, Australia. A genetic case–control study was undertaken involving 30 cases of invasive vulvar cancer and its precursor lesion, high-grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), and 61 controls, matched for age and community of residence. It was hypothesized that this small, isolated population may exhibit increased autozygosity, implicating recessive effects as a possible mechanism for increased susceptibility to vulvar cancer. Methods Genotyping data from saliva samples were used to identify runs of homozygosity (ROH) in order to calculate estimates of genome-wide homozygosity. Results No evidence of an effect of genome-wide homozygosity on vulvar cancer and VIN in East Arnhem women was found, nor was any individual ROH found to be significantly associated with case status. This study found further evidence supporting an association between previous diagnosis of CIN and diagnosis of vulvar cancer or VIN, but found no association with any other medical history variable. Conclusions These findings do not eliminate the possibility of genetic risk factors being involved in this cancer cluster, but rather suggest that alternative analytical strategies and genetic models should be explored.