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The
purpose of my program of research is to improve the health
of women by identifying strategies they utilize to promote
health and to manage symptoms. With this essential knowledge,
interventions that are acceptable, culturally relevant, and
age appropriate can be identified and utilized to improve
health and quality of life. These intervention strategies
may apply to women with chronic disease or those with symptoms
related to life stage, such as the menopause transition.
Not all women are willing to utilize pharmaceutical or medical
interventions. Acceptable alternatives are essential to providing
appropriate health care.
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I have recently completed a study with the
specific aim to test the effectiveness of a multimodal treatment
package (MMTP) of health promotion behaviors (high-fiber, low-fat
diet; multivitamin and calcium supplements; moderate aerobic
exercise; stress reducing breathing techniques) for management
of symptoms associated with the menopause transition (day sweats,
hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness) in breast cancer
survivors. In this study, 8 women (treatment group = 5; delayed
treatment group = 3) utilized the MMTP for 60 days and experienced
a 25- 30% reduction in symptom severity for days sweats, hot
flashes, and night sweats compared to their baseline measures.
As expected the MMTP did not reduce the severity of vaginal
dryness. Women in the delayed treatment group experienced no
significant differences in symptom severity between their first
and second baseline measures. However, women in the treatment
group compared to the delayed treatment group's second baseline
measures indicated a 48% reduction in hot flash severity. A
larger sample size is required to establish the effectiveness
of the MMTP, and this will the purpose of an RO1 proposal to
the National Cancer Institute. This research established that
breast cancer survivors will utilize a MMTP of health promotion
behaviors for symptom management, and this may be an effective
way to encourage women to adopt positive health behaviors.
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Women experiencing severe
symptoms associated with the menopause transition will
be invited to participate in a research study with the
purpose of testing the effectiveness of a MMTP and SOY
on reducing symptom perception, severity, and distress.
As well, I will be seeking collaborators for a research
proposal that includes breast cancer survivors who frequently
experience severe symptoms associated with the menopause
transition due to their age or as a result of their cancer
treatment. Interested individuals should contact Dr. Judith
Berg at jberg@nursing.arizona.edu
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