Improving Women's Health Information
WHV's Improving Women's Health Information project has been identifying issues about which women and girls want information and the best ways to make the information available.
WHV has conducted a statewide telephone survey of 1500 women from all areas of Virginia, which provides - for the first time - statewide and regional data, regarding the health interests and use of information by Virginia women.
The survey showed that women are as concerned about economic issues that affect their use of health care (the cost of health care and insurance) and access to care as they are about their health and about specific diseases.
Respondents also indicated that they actively seek health information and most are at least somewhat satisfied with current information, but many do not find it easy to understand, easy to find or thorough. They use many sources of information and often question the reliability. Nearly all would trust information from their physicians and would like physician to provide information. For more survey highlights, click here.
Current research is being designed to expand the data developed in the survey. Many survey respondents indicated that they are likely to trust ministers for health information. We are therefore seeking to understand better the role of the clergy and faith institutions in promoting women’s wellness. We will be conducting focus and discussion groups and interviews with members of the faith community to get their input. If you are interested in participating in or helping us arrange a discussion with leaders in the faith community in your region, e-mail us.
Another pilot project is identifying the special information needs of low income women. In collaboration with the Department of Social Services in Charlottesville, we are gathering information about the information and health services that women they serve use and would like to have. We hope to expand the project to other localities.
Virginia Voices for Women’s Wellness
Our newest research project is Virginia Voices for Women’s Wellness. WHV wants to hear from women about the issues they face in staying healthy and getting the health care they want. We will be hosting “listening sessions” and collecting stories to learn more about the concerns of Virginian women regarding their health and the well being of their families and their communities.
We want to hear from you!!!
You can participate in a listening session. Listening sessions are like discussion or focus groups. Each has 10-15 women, so that everyone has a chance to participate in the conversation. The session will last approximately 2 hours. We are now making arrangements for sessions for the summer and fall of 2007 in various locations in Virginia.
If you are interested in participating or helping us to arrange a listening session in your community, tell us on this form.
You can also tell us you story online. Here are some topics on which you might write:
| On your health care: | |
| Are you getting the health care you want or need? How are you doing it? If you are not getting what you want, why not? | |
| On finding health information: | |
| Can you find information you want? What sources do you rely on? Are you satisfied with the information you get? Why or why not? | |
| On having a healthy lifestyle: | |
| What changes have you tried to make for yourself or your family? Were you successful? What have you tried? What obstacles are you facing? | |
| On health insurance: | |
| Do you have the health insurance you want? If you’re an employer, what challenges are you facing in providing benefits for your employees? | |
Write about any topic you want!!
To write your story, click here.
Women’s Health Virginia will use your story to make people aware of the wellness issues and challenges women and girls are facing and to help WHV design programs and develop recommendations for actions to address your needs.
Identifying Women and Girls’ Wellness Data
WHV would also like to know of research that has been or is being conducted on topics relating to Virginia women and girls' wellness. We are aware that this research –conducted in academic, non-profit, business or government organizations -often is not reported. It may also include small scale studies that, if compiled with other bits of information or replicated in other communities, will greatly expand our knowledge about women and girls health, health behaviors, use of health care and other issues. WHV would like to develop a comprehensive catalogue of research to enable people who share our goals of improving women and girls’ wellness to use the available data. It will also help us identify areas for new research.
Have any other ideas? Want to work on a research project with WHV?
We welcome your ideas, too, regarding issues that you think should be on our research agenda. Please email us with your suggestions. If you want to become involved with WHV and work on a research project, send in a volunteer form.