Women's Health Services Research

Projects

Current Projects

• Institutional Training Grant: Training in Epidemiology and Clinical Trials – A training program to prepare obstetrician/gynecologists for careers as independent investigators in reproductive health research. Contraceptive research and development is the dominant content focus, and the conduct of clinical trials is the dominant methodological focus. Trainees participate in forums to review and critique work in progress and will receive intensive research and career development support. Upon completion of the program, trainees will have earned an MPH in Epidemiology. This is a collaborative program of the Schools of Medicine and Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; the Duke University School of Medicine and the Duke Clinical Research Institute, and Family Health International.

  Principal Investigator: David Grimes, M.D.
  Program Director: Joanne Garrett, M.P.H., Ph.D.
  Funding Source: National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, NIH
  Total Project Period: 06/27/01 – 04/30//11
  
  

• Nationwide Study of Female Sexual Health – This is a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) across the United States. A nationally representative sample of women aged 20-70 will be surveyed by telephone primarily to gather information on the indicators of FSD, it’s economic burden, and quality of life implications. This study is being conducted in two phases: a pilot study to refine the draft questionnaire (150 subjects) and a full data collection involving 2600 respondents.

  Principal Investigator: Suzanne L. West, Ph.D., M.P.H.
  Funding Source: Proctor and Gamble Pharmaceuticals
  Total Project Period: 07/01/04 – 07/01/07 (extended)
  
  

•  Community Maternal and Child Health Network: Eastern North Carolina Part I– Building on a five-year collaboration with the Eastern NC Baby Love Plus Consortium, described under the Program on Child Health Services, this project works with the consortium to increase research and intervention capacity toward understanding and eliminating health disparities in rural North Carolina. This will be done by developing a community-linked collaboration to determine pilot studies aimed at understanding community influences on maternal, infant, and child health, and by implementing these studies. Ultimately, this process will lead to the systematic development of a full-scale community-partnered multi-level research project.

  Principal Investigator: John Thorp, M.D.
  Funding Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH
  Total Project Period: 08/03 – 12/07 (extended)
  Secondary Program Area: Child Health Services Research
  
  

• Community Maternal and Child Health Network: Eastern North Carolina Part II – The overall goal is to gain new insights into reasons for the disparities in maternal health and child development. The goals of the Network’s first study are to 1) examine the factors associated with maternal allostatic load (a possible factor in poor pregnancy outcomes) and 2) evaluate the usefulness of community-partnered participatory research for conducting research on health disparities. These goals will be achieved through a community-academic partnered, multi-site prospective cohort study with the following specific aims: 1) to determine the factors associated with maternal allostatic load and 2) to explore the relationship between maternal allostatic load during the interconceptional period and birth/child health outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy. Partnered together in this community based, multilevel research project are the UNC Center for Women’s Health Research, East Carolina University, and the Eastern North Carolina Baby Love Plus Project. Eastern NC community partners have participated fully in the research planning and will have crucial roles to play in the initiation, conduct, and analyses of this cohort study.

• Principal Investigator: John Thorp, M.D.
  Funding Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH
  Total Project Period: 07/07 – 06/12
   

Recently Completed Projects

• UNC Pelvic Floor Disorders Research Collaborative – One of seven national centers selected to host a Clinical Trials Network for Female Pelvic Floor Disorders site. The Collaborative is a multidisciplinary team of investigators in urogynecology, urology, gastroenterology, radiology, maternal fetal medicine, and clinical research methodology. The Network conducts clinical trials and prospective research that addresses diagnostic accuracy, treatment outcomes, long-term care rates, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness of treatment strategies.

  Principal Investigator: Anthony G. Visco, M.D.
  Funding Source: National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, NIH
  Total Project Period: 09/01 – 06/11 (Transferred to Duke University 3/31/07)
  
  

• Evidence Report on Uterine Fibroids – This project is systematically reviewing the existing literature on the management of uterine fibroids. In particular, the analytic and clinical validity of different management strategies are of interest as stated in the key questions provided by AHRQ. Using these key questions, literature search terms and eligibility criteria for clinical studies are being developed. This will be followed by a systematic literature search of relevant databases. Adhering to methodological criteria of systematic reviews, relevant clinical studies will be abstracted and their quality rated. An evidence report will be produced, summarizing the existing scientific evidence on the management of uterine fibroids with respect to the key questions provided by AHRQ. [This is the twentieth project at UNC funded under the Evidence-Based Practice Centers contract to RTI from AHRQ.]

  Principal Investigator: Katherine E. Hartmann, M.D., Ph.D.
  Funding Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (subcontract with Research Triangle Institute)
  Total Project Period: 01/16/06 – 02/15/07 (extension until 3/30/07 in being processed)
  Secondary Program Area: Medical Practice and Prevention