IHT's At Women's Midlife: Theory And Diversity Among Women And 'Experts'
L218 25 2038
University Of Warwick, University Of Teeside & University Of Edinburgh
Dr FE Griffiths, Professor E Green, Dr GA Bendelow, Dr KC Backett-Milburn, Dr M Tsouroufli & Dr D Thompson
May 2001 - April 2003 {
Website
Abstract
This research aims to increase understanding of the diversity of perspectives
on innovative health technologies (IHTs) held by both lay individuals and
'experts'. It focuses on the technologies of hormone replacement therapy
for the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, screening
for osteoporosis using bone densitometry and screening for breast cancer
using 'breast awareness' and mammography screening. These technologies are
focused on women in midlife. They are much discussed in the media and there
is a high level of lay understanding about them. Findings about the interface
between lay and expert views on these particular IHTs will inform the development
and use of newer IHTs where there is less understanding of the technology
in the lay community.
The research seeks to understand the diversity of how women and health care
professionals perceive the IHTs and the risks related to their use, what
influences their perceptions and how it translates into practice. Interviews
will be undertaken with women from different socio-economic contexts, sampled
for diversity of eithnicity, ablebodiedness, sexual orientation and experience
of the IHTs. Interviews will be undertaken with nursing and medical professionals
working in primary, community and secondary health care.
The research will also seek to understand how women and health professionals together address issues of risk and compliance related to the IHTs, the different types of discourses that occur, the form of negotiation that takes place and the construction of joint accounts of the health decision making process. For this recordings will be made of consultations between women and health care professionals where the IHTs are discussed.
The results of the study will inform the development and continued use of IHTs, taking account of diversity. In the dissemination phase of the research, practitioners, policy makers, planners and individuals working with or part of user groups will be recruited to focus groups. They will explore how the research findings can be translated into policy and practice and guide the dissemination of the results.
The research team is drawn from across the disciplines of sociology and clinical medicine and regions of the UK bringing diversity of researcher perspectives to the project.
Summary
Background
As women approach mid life, hormonal changes and related health issues result in them becoming a focus for a range of health technologies promoted as beneficial for maintaining quality of life. This study aims to explore the diversity of attitudes of women and health professionals towards health technologies aimed at midlife women. It focuses on the health technologies of
- hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the prevention of osteoporosis (brittle bones) and cardiovascular disease (e.g. heart attacks)
- screening for osteoporosis using bone densitometry (measuring bone density)
- screening for breast cancer using 'breast awareness' (teaching women how to check for signs of breast cancer) and mammography (x-ray of breast) screening.
These technologies are much discussed in the media and there is a high
level of lay understanding about them, however little is known about women's
perceptions of the risks and benefits associated with their use.
This study aims to develop new understanding of the ways in which these
particular health technologies are defined, assessed and experienced by
women and health care professionals, paying particular attention to diversity.
Research Design
This study will gather qualitative interview data from women and health
professionals from diverse backgrounds on their perceptions of the technologies,
their risk and safety and how they make decisions about their use.
The field work will be undertaken in two areas in the UK with contrasting
socio-economic characteristics. Women will be sampled for diversity of ethnicity,
sexual orientation, able-bodiedness and use of the health technologies.
Data will be gathered from health professionals from general practice, community
clinics and hospital clinics and include doctors, nurses and radiographers.
To understand how women and health professionals together address issues
related to the health technologies and how they develop a shared understanding
of the use of the technologies, clinical consultations about these technologies
will be recorded.
Analysis of the data will explore both diversity of perspectives and commonality
of themes. Comparisons will be made between what is reported in individual
accounts in research interviews and what happens during clinical consultations.
Policy and Academic Implications
Findings from this study, particularly the interface between lay and expert views on the health technologies, will inform the development and use of newer health technologies where there is less understanding of the technology in the lay community, taking account of diversity in the community. The findings will contribute to understanding how health technologies and wider changes in society interact and feedback on each other, so contributing to the central question of the Programme.
In the final phase of the research, practitioners, policy makers, planners and representatives of user groups will be recruited to focus groups to explore how the research findings can be translated into policy and practice and to guide dissemination.
Contacts
Outputs
Research Findings
Findings are available here - pdf
Book chapters
2002 'Complexity and primary care research'. Griffiths FE.
In 'Complexity and Health Care: an introduction'. Radcliffe Medical Press,
Abingdon
Editors: Sweeney K and Griffiths FE.
2003 'Managing health risks to women's midlife bodies: the patient-professional
encounter'. Griffiths FE and Green E.
In 'Debating Biology: Sociological Reflections on Health, Medicine and Society'
Routledge, London. Editors: Williams SJ, Bendelow GA and Birke L .
Journal Papers
2005 'The nature of medical evidence and its inherent uncertainty for the
clinical consultation: qualitative study'
Frances Griffiths, Eileen Green, Maria Tsouroufli
BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.38336.482720.8F (published 31 January 2005) see link
here for abstract (end of page) for full article see here
- pdf
2002 'Narratives of Risk: Women at midlife, Medical "Experts" and Health Technologies'. Health Risk and Society Green EE, Thompson D, Griffiths FE. vol 4 pp243-286.
2002 'Complexity and primary care research'. Griffiths FE. 17 pages.
In 'Complexity and Health Care: an introduction'. Radcliffe Medical Press,
Abingdon
Editors: Sweeney K and Griffiths FE.
2003 'Managing health risks to women's midlife bodies: the patient-professional
encounter'.
Griffiths FE and Green E. (5000 words).
In 'Debating Biology: Sociological Reflections on Health, Medicine and Society'
Routledge, London. Editors: Williams SJ, Bendelow GA and Birke L .
Griffiths, F Editorial: Taking hormone replacement therapy - Women and
health professionals should make the decision jointly and review it periodically
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/327/7419/820
Conference Papers
Innovative Health Technologies at Women's Midlife: Theory and Diversity Among Women and 'Experts'. Griffiths, F. Green E, Bendelow G, Backett Milburn K. WONCA EUROPE 2002, London, June 2002
The Negotiation Between Women and Health Professionals in Consultations Related to Health Technologies at Women's Midlife: a Sociological and Clinical Perspective K Backett Milburn G Bendelow, E, Green Frances Griffiths,. European General Practice Research Workshop May 2002 Avignon, France
Innovative Health Technologies at Women's Midlife: Theory and Diversity
among Women and 'Experts'
Authors: Frances Griffiths, Eileen Green, Kathryn Backett Milburn, and Gillian
Bendelow European General Practice Research Workshop, Poland Oct 2001
Paper: (oral) 'Narratives of Risk: Women, Medical 'Experts' and Health
Technologies'
Authors: Di Thompson, Eileen Green, Frances Griffiths, and Maria Tsouroufli
Conference: British Sociological Association 51st Annual Conference 'Reshaping
the Social', University of Leicester 25-27th March, 2002
Paper: (oral) The negotiation between women and health professionals in
consultations related to health technologies at women's midlife: a sociological
and clinical perspective
Frances Griffiths, Eileen Green, Gill Bendelow, Kathryn Backett Milburn
European General Practice Research Workshop, Avingnon, France May 2002
Paper: (oral) 'Innovative Health Technologies at Women's Midlife: Theory
and Diversity among Women and 'Experts'
Authors: Frances Griffiths, Eileen Green, Kathryn Backett Milburn, and Gillian
Bendelow World Organisations of Colleges and Associations of General Practice/Family
Medicine (WONCA) European conference, London June 2002
Paper: (oral) Health Technologies for Midlife Women: Uncertainty, Responsibility and 'Expert Intervention'. Authors: Eileen Green and Frances Griffiths. EASST Conference July 2002 York University
Paper: (oral) Managing Midlife: Women, Medical 'Experts' and Health Technologies: Different voices, different outcomes? Authors: Diane Thompson, Eileen Green, and Frances Griffiths Social Policy Association annual conference, July 2002, University of Teesside
Paper: (Oral) Desired Intervention or managed surveillance? Midlife women, medical "experts" and health technologies. Authors: Diane Thompson, Eileen Green, Frances Griffiths, Maria Tsouroufli. BSA Annual Conference 11-13 April 2003, University of York
Paper: (Oral) Informed Choice: Midlife women, health professionals and health technologies. Authors: Authors: Diane Thompson, Frances Griffiths, K. Backett-Milburn, Eileen Green, Maria Tsouroufli. BSA Annual Conference 11-13 April 2003, University of York. SWSAPC Annual Conference 27-28th March 2003, University of Oxford
Paper: (oral) 'Normal' or pathological? Women's embodies experiences and
health seeking behaviours at midlife
Authors: Gill Bendelow, Frances Griffiths, Green E
BSA Medical Sociology Group Annual Conference, September 2002, York
Osteoporosis, HRT and the patient-doctor encounter
Griffiths F. and Green E.
EGPRW Bled October 2002
Informed Choice: Midlife Women, Health Professionals and Health Technologies.
Authors: Maria Tsouroufli, Frances Griffiths, Kathryn Backett-Milburn; Di
Thompson and Eileen Green
BSA annual conference, 2003, University of York
Desired intervention or managed surveillance? - Midlife Women and Medical
'Experts': Authors: Di Thompson, Eileen Green, Frances Griffiths and Maria
Tsouroufli
BSA annual conference, 2003, University of York
Are my bones normal Doctor? The role and perception of health technologies in managing risk and uncertainty for mid-life women. Authors: Eileen Green and Frances Griffiths. Innovating Medicine: Medical Technologies in the Social Sciences Conference. University of Manchester July 2003
The transmission of "Expert" advice and its relocation within women's local biology: health technology and midlife women. Frances Griffiths Eileen Green Gillian Bendelow Medical Sociology Conference, September 2003 York, UK
Uncertainty in the doctor-patient encounter. Authors: Frances Griffiths and Eileen Green. Shared Decision Making Conference, Swansea, September 2003
Mammography: decision making in Crete and the UK. Authors: Trigoni, M.
Lionis, C. Griffiths, F. & Green, E. EGPRN conference, Verona, October
2003
Innovative Health Technologies at Women's Midlife: Theory and Diversity
Among Women and 'Experts'
Backett-Milburn K. Bendelow G.,Green E, Griffiths, F.
European General Practice Research Workshop Gadansk October 2001
Women and Innovative Health Technologies at Midlife: Risky or Beneficial?
Theory and Diversity among Women and 'Experts',
Authors: Eileen Green, Frances Griffiths, Kathryn Backett Milburn, Gillian
Bendelow, Di Thompson and Maria Tsouroufli British Sociological Association
Medical Sociology Conference, York University, 2001
Paper: (oral) Midlife Women and Health Technologies: Assessing the Risks
Eileen Green, Frances Griffiths, Kathryn Backett Milburn, Gillian Bendelow,
Di Thompson and Maria Tsouroufli
The Society for Social Studies of Science Conference, 'Fashioning the Future',
Science, Technology and Visions of Progress, University of Massachussets,
Institute of Technology, Boston, USA, November 2001
Paper: (oral) Midlife Women and Health Technologies: Assessing the Risks
Eileen Green, Frances Griffiths, Kathryn Backett Milburn, Gillian Bendelow,
Di Thompson and Maria Tsouroufli
The Society for Social Studies of Science Conference, 'Fashioning the Future',
Science, Technology and Visions of Progress, University of Massachussets,
Institute of Technology, Boston, USA, November 2001
Innovative Health Technologies at Women's Midlife: Theory and Diversity
among Women and 'Experts'
Frances Griffiths, Eileen Green, Kathryn Backett Milburn, and Gillian Bendelow
European General Practice Research Workshop, Poland Oct 2001
Paper: (oral) 'Narratives of Risk: Women, Medical 'Experts' and Health
Technologies'
Di Thompson, Eileen Green, Frances Griffiths, and Maria Tsouroufli
British Sociological Association 51st Annual Conference 'Reshaping the Social',
University of Leicester 25-27th March, 2002
Paper: (oral) The negotiation between women and health professionals in
consultations related to health technologies at women's midlife: a sociological
and clinical perspective
Frances Griffiths, Eileen Green, Gill Bendelow, Kathryn Backett Milburn
European General Practice Research Workshop, Avingnon, France May 2002
Paper: (oral) 'Innovative Health Technologies at Women's Midlife: Theory
and Diversity among Women and 'Experts'
Frances Griffiths, Eileen Green, Kathryn Backett Milburn, and Gillian Bendelow
Accepted for presentation to World Organisations of Colleges and Associations
of General Practice/Family Medicine (WONCA) European conference, London
June 2002
Paper: (oral) Health Technologies for Midlife Women: Uncertainty, Responsibility
and 'Expert Intervention'
Eileen Green and Frances Griffiths
EASST Conference July 2002 York University
Paper: (oral) Managing Midlife: Women, Medical 'Experts' and Health Technologies:
Different voices, different outcomes?
Diane Thompson, Eileen Green, and Frances Griffiths
Social Policy Association annual conference, July 2002, University of Teesside
Paper: (oral) 'Normal' or pathological? Women's embodies experiences and
health seeking behaviours at midlife
Gill Bendelow, Frances Griffiths, Green E
BSA Medical Sociology Group Annual Conference, September 2002, York
Innovative health technologies at women's midlife: theory and diversity
among women and 'experts'
Green E, Bendelow G, Backett Milburn K.
Society for Academic Primary Care Conference, (SAPC), Birmingham, July 2002
Health Technologies at Women's Midlife: Informing the Educated, Excluding
the 'Odd ones'?
Maria Tsouroufli, Frances Griffiths, Eileen Green and Di Thompson
Society for Academic Primary Care Conference, (SAPC), Birmingham , July
2002
Informed Choice: Midlife Women, Health Professionals and Health Technologies.
Maria Tsouroufli, Frances Griffiths, Kathryn Backett-Milburn; Di Thompson
and Eileen Green
BSA annual conference, 2003, University of York
Paper: (Oral) Desired Intervention or managed surveillance? Midlife women,
medical "experts" and health technologies.
Diane Thompson, Eileen Green, Frances Griffiths, Maria Tsouroufli
BSA Annual Conference 11-13 April 2003, University of York
Green, E. (Oral) Health Technologies for Midlife Women: Do they Enhance Health, Quality of Life and Citizenship? Or are they a Risky Form of Technologiecal Survveillance and Control of Women's Bodies?. IT, Transnational Democracy and Gender. 2001, University of Ronneby, Sweden.
Conference Posters
Innovative health technologies at women's midlife: theory and diversity
among women and 'experts' with Green E, Bendelow G, Backett Milburn K.
Society for Academic Primary Care Conference, (SAPC), Birmingham, July 2002
Health Technologies at Women's Midlife: Informing the Educated, Excluding
the 'Odd ones'?
Authors: Maria Tsouroufli, Frances Griffiths, Eileen Green and Di Thompson
Society for Academic Primary Care Conference, (SAPC), Birmingham , July
2002
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