Introduction Participation in mammographic screening for breast cancer in Australia is approximately 54% among the general population, but screening among women from some culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds is lower. BreastScreen Victoria apply strategies to increase screening including reminder letters and phone calls; however, these are usually provided in English. Using intervention strategies generated from the Ophelia (OPtimise HEalth LIteracy and Access) community co-design process, translated mammography reminder letters and in-language phone calls were tested within two randomised control trials (RCTs). Methods and analysis Women aged 50-75 years who were due for their 2-yearly screening mammography (for RCT#1) or were under-screened, i.e. �27 months since last screen (for RCT#2) were randomised into intervention or control groups. RCT#1 compared sending women routine reminder letters (English only) with translated (Arabic or Italian) letters. RCT#2 compared reminder telephone calls to women in their preferred language (Arabic or Italian) to no telephone call. The primary outcome for each trial was screening booking rates within 14-days. Primary outcomes were tested using Pearson's chi-square test. Rates within language group (incidence ratio: IR) were compared using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test.
Cerebrovascular accident, or stroke, is the fourth leading cause of death for all women and the eighth leading cause of pregnancy-associated death. The physiologic changes of pregnancy increase the risk of cerebrovascular accident for women. With current incidence rates, a facility with 3300 births per year can anticipate caring for one woman with a pregnancy-related stroke at least every 2 years. All maternity care providers must be able to assess women experiencing stroke-like symptoms and initiate timely care to mitigate brain tissue damage, decrease long-term morbidity, and prevent mortality. The 2 main types of stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic, have similar presenting symptoms but very different pathophysiology and treatment. This article reviews assessment and initial treatment of pregnant and postpartum women experiencing stroke and provides guidance for subsequent maternity and primary care to assist front-line perinatal care providers who may be the first to treat affected women or may resume primary care after diagnosis.
During the past 20 years, an increase in survival among pediatric patients with cancer has occurred, and a need exists to be proactive prior to cancer therapy regarding issues related to fertility. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause a number of deleterious side effects to female patients, including early menopause and its associated side effects of osteoporosis and heart disease as well as the inability to carry a pregnancy to term or conceive a child. Many drugs and fields of radiotherapy are associated with an increased incidence of female reproductive complications. Options are available for the preservation of female fertility, but many are experimental. Of highest importance is the need to counsel female adolescents and young adults before beginning induction chemotherapy or radiation. Nurses play a large part in the information about future fertility that female patients receive before the initiation of cancer therapy. After reading this article, nurses will have a better understanding of the impact of cancer therapy on the female reproductive system and be more comfortable discussing the topic with their patients.
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