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Characteristics of midlife women recruited through internet communities/groups.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to explore demographic characteristics of a specific online population, midlife women recruited through Internet communities or groups, and to provide future direction for Internet research among midlife women. Using a feminist perspective, the study focused on ethnic variations in the characteristics of the midlife women. A total of 192 midlife women were recruited through Internet communities. The Internet survey included questions on sociodemographic characteristics and health/illness status. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that midlife women recruited through Internet communities tended to be white, young, married, and affluent. The findings also indicated significant ethnic differences in sociodemographic characteristics. The findings suggest that researchers need to consider that midlife women recruited from Internet communities tend to be a specific group of midlife women.

SUBMITTER: Im EO

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2494735 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan-Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Characteristics of midlife women recruited through internet communities/groups.

Im Eun-Ok EO Shin Hyun Jeong HJ Chee Wonshik W

Computers, informatics, nursing : CIN 20080101 1

The purpose of this study was to explore demographic characteristics of a specific online population, midlife women recruited through Internet communities or groups, and to provide future direction for Internet research among midlife women. Using a feminist perspective, the study focused on ethnic variations in the characteristics of the midlife women. A total of 192 midlife women were recruited through Internet communities. The Internet survey included questions on sociodemographic characterist ...[more]

PMID: 18091620

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Project description:IntroductionMidlife, which encompasses the menopause transition in women, can be a time of disrupted sleep and accelerated atherosclerosis accumulation. Short or poor sleep quality has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; few studies have investigated relations among midlife women. We tested whether shorter actigraphy sleep time or poorer subjective sleep quality was associated with carotid atherosclerosis among midlife women.Aims and methodsTwo hundred fifty-six peri- and postmenopausal women aged 40-60 years completed 3 days of wrist actigraphy, hot flash monitoring, questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], Berlin), a blood draw, and carotid ultrasound [intima media thickness (IMT), plaque]. Associations of objective (actigraphy) and subjective (PSQI) sleep with IMT/plaque were tested in regression models (covariates: age, race, education, body mass index, blood pressure, lipids, insulin resistance, medications, snoring, depressive symptoms, sleep hot flashes, and estradiol).ResultsShorter objective sleep time was associated with higher odds of carotid plaque (for each hour shorter sleep, plaque score ? 2, odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval, CI] = 1.58 [1.11-2.27], p = .01; plaque score = 1, OR [95% CI] = 0.95 [0.68-1.32], p = .75, vs. no plaque, multivariable). Poorer subjective sleep quality was associated with higher mean IMT [?, b (standard error, SE) = 0.004 (0.002), p = .03], maximal IMT [b (SE) = 0.009 (0.003), p = .005], and plaque [plaque score ? 2, OR (95% CI) = 1.23 (1.09-1.40), p = .001; score = 1, OR (95% CI) = 1.06 (0.93-1.21), p = .37, vs. no plaque] in multivariable models. Findings persisted additionally adjusting for sleep hot flashes and estradiol.ConclusionsShorter actigraphy-assessed sleep time and poorer subjective sleep quality were associated with increased carotid atherosclerosis among midlife women. Associations persisted adjusting for CVD risk factors, hot flashes, and estradiol.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare but fatal demyelinating disease caused by JC virus (JCV), occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients. As PML develops in individuals with various underlying disorders sporadically and infrequently, a nationwide survey of PML is difficult. This study was conducted to elucidate the characteristics of PML in Japan through an internet-assisted laboratory surveillance program. METHODS: A diagnostic support system for PML was established using a real-time PCR assay of JCV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and requests for testing were received from clinicians via specialized websites. Medical histories of patients were collected through standardized questionnaires, and a database of CSF JCV loads and clinical information was created and analyzed. RESULTS: For 4 years from April 2007 to March 2011, CSF specimens from 419 patients were tested. Forty-eight individuals were found positive for JCV DNA in their CSF and were diagnosed with PML. PML primarily occurred not only in HIV-positive patients (33.3%) but also in patients with hematologic disorders after receiving stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy, and/or immunosuppressive treatment (39.6%). The frequencies of PML cases among the subjects in these two categories were 20.3% and 23.5%, respectively. Although no significant features were observed with respect to CSF JCV loads in PML patients with an HIV infection or hematologic disorder, males were predominant in both groups (100% and 89.5%, respectively). The proportion of PML cases with autoimmune disorders (6.3%) or solid-organ transplants (2.1%) was smaller than those with HIV infection or hematologic disorders, probably due to the limited availability of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and transplantation from brain dead donors. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the internet-assisted laboratory surveillance program might be a useful strategy for collecting precise real-time information on PML on a national level. The current database provides important background information for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with risk factors for PML.

Dataset Information

Characteristics of midlife women recruited through internet communities/groups.

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Characteristics of midlife women recruited through internet communities/groups.

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