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Ethnically Diverse Midlife Women’s Menopausal Transition Symptom Experience and Access to Medical and Integrative Health Care: Informing the Development of an Integrative Medicine Group Visit for the Menopausal Transition [preprint]

Taylor-Swanson, Lisa
Stoddard, Kari
Fritz, Julie
Anderson, Belinda “Beau”
Cortez, Melissa
Conboy, Lisa
Sheng, Xiaoming
Flake, Naomi
Sanchez-Birkhead, Ana
Stark, Louisa
... show 2 more
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Abstract

Objective: Individuals in the menopausal transition often seek healthcare in the United States. However, many individuals who seek healthcare do not receive treatments for their symptoms. And, some lack access to providers of both medical care and evidence-based integrative health interventions such as acupuncture, acupressure, or massage. A potential solution to this problem is medical group visits. Medical group visits are when multiple patients are seen by one provider. The present study gathered the opinions of diverse midlife women about interest in and desired design elements of medical group visits for menopause-related symptoms and concerns.

Methods: We conducted one focus group with ethnically diverse midlife women to learn about their experiences in the menopausal transition, specifically their symptom experience, barriers, and facilitators to accessing medical and integrative health providers, and their interest in and suggestions for the design of an integrative medical group visit. Qualitative research methods were used to summarize session results.

Results: Nine women participated and were diverse in terms of race/ethnicity and religious affiliation, and were highly educated. Themes included: an interest in participating in this conversation; that medical terms were mostly unfamiliar, and that terminology was less important than having a conversation; many symptoms were experienced; social factors affected participants, stressing the need for communication on this topic; receiving both unhelpful and helpful healthcare, a desire for whole person care; a need for information about what conditions Integrative Health interventions can treat, barriers to accessing both conventional and integrative care providers and facilitators include knowledge about insurance coverage and word of mouth. The group expressed great interest in the proposed integrative medical group visit (IMGV) model but expressed barriers such as a lack of time available, and needing childcare. Women indicated that an online format may help to overcome barriers.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of engagement with stakeholders before the design and implementation of IMGV and the great need among midlife women for education about the menopausal transition and relevant interventions and self-care.

Source

Ethnically Diverse Midlife Women’s Menopausal Transition Symptom Experience and Access to Medical and Integrative Health Care: Informing the Development of an Integrative Medicine Group Visit for the Menopausal Transition Lisa Taylor-Swanson, Kari Stoddard, Julie Fritz, Belinda “Beau” Anderson, Melissa Cortez, Lisa Conboy, Xiaoming Sheng, Naomi Flake, Ana Sanchez-Birkhead, Louisa Stark, Nancy Fugate Woods, Paula Gardiner medRxiv 2022.06.19.22276301; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.19.22276301

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10.1101/2022.06.19.22276301
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This article is a preprint. Preprints are preliminary reports of work that have not been certified by peer review.

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