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• 1. [Article] Development and Preliminary Psychometric Testing of the Centrality of Pain Scale

  Objective: To develop and begin to evaluate a new measure of the centrality of pain in patients' lives. Design: Cross-sectional survey and cognitive interviews. Setting: Academic general internal medicine ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Development and Preliminary Psychometric Testing of the Centrality of Pain Scale Author: Nicolaidis, Christina, Chianello, Teresa, Gerrity, Martha Year: 2011 Objective: To develop and begin to evaluate a new measure of the centrality of pain in patients' lives. Design: Cross-sectional survey and cognitive interviews. Setting: Academic general internal medicine clinic. Patients: 65 adult internal medicine patients with chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP). Outcome measures: We assessed content validity and clarity of the 10-item Centrality of Pain Scale (COPS) by soliciting feedback from chronic pain experts and by conducting cognitive interviews with patients with CNMP. We assessed internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha. We assessed construct validity by comparing the COPS with other measures of chronic pain morbidity including pain severity, depression, anxiety, physical and mental health function, PTSD, quality of life, and provider assessment. Results: Healthcare providers felt the COPS had excellent face validity. Cognitive interviews revealed that patients' understanding of the items matched the intended construct, the scale measured an important concept, and items were easy to understand. The COPS had excellent internal consistency (alpha=0.9). COPS was negatively associated with age (r=−0.29; p=0.02), but not with other demographic characteristics. Higher COPS scores were associated with poorer physical (r=−0.48; p Conclusions: The COPS has excellent internal consistency and construct validity. Additional studies are needed to further validate the scale. Title: Development and Preliminary Psychometric Testing of the Centrality of Pain Scale Author: Nicolaidis, Christina, Chianello, Teresa, Gerrity, Martha Year: 2011 Objective: To develop and begin to evaluate a new measure of the centrality of pain in patients' lives. Design: Cross-sectional survey and cognitive interviews. Setting: Academic general internal medicine clinic. Patients: 65 adult internal medicine patients with chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP). Outcome measures: We assessed content validity and clarity of the 10-item Centrality of Pain Scale (COPS) by soliciting feedback from chronic pain experts and by conducting cognitive interviews with patients with CNMP. We assessed internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha. We assessed construct validity by comparing the COPS with other measures of chronic pain morbidity including pain severity, depression, anxiety, physical and mental health function, PTSD, quality of life, and provider assessment. Results: Healthcare providers felt the COPS had excellent face validity. Cognitive interviews revealed that patients' understanding of the items matched the intended construct, the scale measured an important concept, and items were easy to understand. The COPS had excellent internal consistency (alpha=0.9). COPS was negatively associated with age (r=−0.29; p=0.02), but not with other demographic characteristics. Higher COPS scores were associated with poorer physical (r=−0.48; p Conclusions: The COPS has excellent internal consistency and construct validity. Additional studies are needed to further validate the scale. Close

• 2. [Article] Psychometric Properties of the Centrality of Pain Scale

  The Centrality of Pain Scale (COPS) is a recently developed patient-centered, 10-item self-report measure designed to assess how central, or dominating, in their lives individuals with chronic pain perceive ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Psychometric Properties of the Centrality of Pain Scale Author: Morasco, Benjamin J., Turk, Dennis C., Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2015 The Centrality of Pain Scale (COPS) is a recently developed patient-centered, 10-item self-report measure designed to assess how central, or dominating, in their lives individuals with chronic pain perceive pain to be. The COPS underwent initial development and validation previously; preliminary results suggested that the measure had excellent psychometric properties and that COPS scores were associated with important clinical factors. The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the COPS in a sample of individuals with mixed chronic pain diagnoses (N = 178) being treated at a U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Principal components analysis of COPS items revealed a single factor, and all items loaded highly. The COPS had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .902) and was significantly correlated with other measures of pain, mental health, psychological factors associated with pain, and chronic pain coping styles, suggesting convergent and divergent validity. Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that COPS score was independently associated with both pain severity and interference. Future research should evaluate the generalizability of the COPS in different samples, its responsiveness to treatment, and the extent to which pain centrality may be a focus of nonpharmacologic interventions for chronic pain. Title: Psychometric Properties of the Centrality of Pain Scale Author: Morasco, Benjamin J., Turk, Dennis C., Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2015 The Centrality of Pain Scale (COPS) is a recently developed patient-centered, 10-item self-report measure designed to assess how central, or dominating, in their lives individuals with chronic pain perceive pain to be. The COPS underwent initial development and validation previously; preliminary results suggested that the measure had excellent psychometric properties and that COPS scores were associated with important clinical factors. The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the COPS in a sample of individuals with mixed chronic pain diagnoses (N = 178) being treated at a U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Principal components analysis of COPS items revealed a single factor, and all items loaded highly. The COPS had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .902) and was significantly correlated with other measures of pain, mental health, psychological factors associated with pain, and chronic pain coping styles, suggesting convergent and divergent validity. Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that COPS score was independently associated with both pain severity and interference. Future research should evaluate the generalizability of the COPS in different samples, its responsiveness to treatment, and the extent to which pain centrality may be a focus of nonpharmacologic interventions for chronic pain. Close

• 3. [Article] Barriers to Healthcare: Instrument Development and Comparison Between Autistic Adults and Adults With and Without Other Disabilities

  Our objective was to use a community-based participatory research approach to identify and compare barriers to healthcare experienced by autistic adults and adults with and without other disabilities. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Barriers to Healthcare: Instrument Development and Comparison Between Autistic Adults and Adults With and Without Other Disabilities Author: Raymaker, Dora M., McDonald, Katherine E., Ashkenazy, Elesia, Gerrity, Martha, Baggs, Amelia, Kripke, Clarissa, Hourston, Sarah, Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2016 Our objective was to use a community-based participatory research approach to identify and compare barriers to healthcare experienced by autistic adults and adults with and without other disabilities. To do so, we developed a Long- and Short-Form instrument to assess barriers in clinical and research settings. Using the Barriers to Healthcare Checklist–Long Form, we surveyed 437 participants (209 autistic, 55 non-autistic with disabilities, and 173 non-autistic without disabilities). Autistic participants selected different and greater barriers to healthcare, particularly in areas related to emotional regulation, patient-provider communication, sensory sensitivity, and healthcare navigation. Top barriers were fear or anxiety (35% (n = 74)), not being able to process information fast enough to participate in real-time discussions about healthcare (32% (n = 67)), concern about cost (30% (n = 62)), facilities causing sensory issues 30% ((n = 62)), and difficulty communicating with providers (29% (n = 61)). The Long Form instrument exhibited good content and construct validity. The items combined to create the Short Form had predominantly high levels of correlation (range 0.2–0.8, p < 0.001) and showed responsiveness to change. We recommend healthcare providers, clinics, and others working in healthcare settings to be aware of these barriers, and urge more intervention research to explore means for removing them. Title: Barriers to Healthcare: Instrument Development and Comparison Between Autistic Adults and Adults With and Without Other Disabilities Author: Raymaker, Dora M., McDonald, Katherine E., Ashkenazy, Elesia, Gerrity, Martha, Baggs, Amelia, Kripke, Clarissa, Hourston, Sarah, Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2016 Our objective was to use a community-based participatory research approach to identify and compare barriers to healthcare experienced by autistic adults and adults with and without other disabilities. To do so, we developed a Long- and Short-Form instrument to assess barriers in clinical and research settings. Using the Barriers to Healthcare Checklist–Long Form, we surveyed 437 participants (209 autistic, 55 non-autistic with disabilities, and 173 non-autistic without disabilities). Autistic participants selected different and greater barriers to healthcare, particularly in areas related to emotional regulation, patient-provider communication, sensory sensitivity, and healthcare navigation. Top barriers were fear or anxiety (35% (n = 74)), not being able to process information fast enough to participate in real-time discussions about healthcare (32% (n = 67)), concern about cost (30% (n = 62)), facilities causing sensory issues 30% ((n = 62)), and difficulty communicating with providers (29% (n = 61)). The Long Form instrument exhibited good content and construct validity. The items combined to create the Short Form had predominantly high levels of correlation (range 0.2–0.8, p < 0.001) and showed responsiveness to change. We recommend healthcare providers, clinics, and others working in healthcare settings to be aware of these barriers, and urge more intervention research to explore means for removing them. Close

• 4. [Article] The Development and Evaluation of an Online Healthcare Toolkit for Autistic Adults and their Primary Care Providers

  BACKGROUND: The healthcare system is ill-equipped to meet the needs of adults on the autism spectrum. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Development and Evaluation of an Online Healthcare Toolkit for Autistic Adults and their Primary Care Providers Author: Nicolaidis, Christina, Raymaker, Dora, McDonald, Katherine E., Kapp, Steven K., Weiner, Michael, Ashkenazy, Elesia, Gerrity, Martha, Kripke, Clarissa, Platt, Laura, Baggs, Amelia Year: 2016 BACKGROUND: The healthcare system is ill-equipped to meet the needs of adults on the autism spectrum. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop and evaluate tools to facilitate the primary healthcare of autistic adults. DESIGN: Toolkit development included cognitive interviewing and test–retest reliability studies. Evaluation consisted of a mixed-methods, single-arm pre/postintervention comparison. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 259 autistic adults and 51 primary care providers (PCPs) residing in the United States. INTERVENTIONS: The AASPIRE Healthcare toolkit includes the Autism Healthcare Accommodations Tool (AHAT)—a tool that allows patients to create a personalized accommodations report for their PCP—and general healthcare- and autism-related information, worksheets, checklists, and resources for patients and healthcare providers. MAIN MEASURES: Satisfaction with patient–provider communication, healthcare self-efficacy, barriers to healthcare, and satisfaction with the toolkit’s usability and utility; responses to open-ended questions. KEY RESULTS: Preliminary testing of the AHAT demonstrated strong content validity and adequate test–retest stability. Almost all patient participants (>94 %) felt that the AHAT and the toolkit were easy to use, important, and useful. In pre/post-intervention comparisons, the mean number of barriers decreased (from 4.07 to 2.82, p < 0.0001), healthcare self-efficacy increased (from 37.9 to 39.4, p = 0.02), and satisfaction with PCP communication improved (from 30.9 to 32.6, p = 0.03). Patients stated that the toolkit helped clarify their needs, enabled them to self-advocate and prepare for visits more effectively, and positively influenced provider behavior. Most of the PCPs surveyed read the AHAT (97%), rated it as moderately or very useful (82%), and would recommend it to other patients (87%). CONCLUSIONS: The CBPR process resulted in a reliable healthcare accommodation tool and a highly accessible healthcare toolkit. Patients and providers indicated that the tools positively impacted healthcare interactions. The toolkit has the potential to reduce barriers to healthcare and improve healthcare self-efficacy and patient–provider communication. Title: The Development and Evaluation of an Online Healthcare Toolkit for Autistic Adults and their Primary Care Providers Author: Nicolaidis, Christina, Raymaker, Dora, McDonald, Katherine E., Kapp, Steven K., Weiner, Michael, Ashkenazy, Elesia, Gerrity, Martha, Kripke, Clarissa, Platt, Laura, Baggs, Amelia Year: 2016 BACKGROUND: The healthcare system is ill-equipped to meet the needs of adults on the autism spectrum. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop and evaluate tools to facilitate the primary healthcare of autistic adults. DESIGN: Toolkit development included cognitive interviewing and test–retest reliability studies. Evaluation consisted of a mixed-methods, single-arm pre/postintervention comparison. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 259 autistic adults and 51 primary care providers (PCPs) residing in the United States. INTERVENTIONS: The AASPIRE Healthcare toolkit includes the Autism Healthcare Accommodations Tool (AHAT)—a tool that allows patients to create a personalized accommodations report for their PCP—and general healthcare- and autism-related information, worksheets, checklists, and resources for patients and healthcare providers. MAIN MEASURES: Satisfaction with patient–provider communication, healthcare self-efficacy, barriers to healthcare, and satisfaction with the toolkit’s usability and utility; responses to open-ended questions. KEY RESULTS: Preliminary testing of the AHAT demonstrated strong content validity and adequate test–retest stability. Almost all patient participants (>94 %) felt that the AHAT and the toolkit were easy to use, important, and useful. In pre/post-intervention comparisons, the mean number of barriers decreased (from 4.07 to 2.82, p < 0.0001), healthcare self-efficacy increased (from 37.9 to 39.4, p = 0.02), and satisfaction with PCP communication improved (from 30.9 to 32.6, p = 0.03). Patients stated that the toolkit helped clarify their needs, enabled them to self-advocate and prepare for visits more effectively, and positively influenced provider behavior. Most of the PCPs surveyed read the AHAT (97%), rated it as moderately or very useful (82%), and would recommend it to other patients (87%). CONCLUSIONS: The CBPR process resulted in a reliable healthcare accommodation tool and a highly accessible healthcare toolkit. Patients and providers indicated that the tools positively impacted healthcare interactions. The toolkit has the potential to reduce barriers to healthcare and improve healthcare self-efficacy and patient–provider communication. Close

• 5. [Article] Motivational Interviewing at the Intersections of Depression and Intimate Partner Violence among African American Women

  This article focuses on design, training, and delivery of a culturally-tailored, multi-faceted intervention which used motivational interviewing (MI) and case management to reduce depression severity among ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Motivational Interviewing at the Intersections of Depression and Intimate Partner Violence among African American Women Author: Wahab, Stéphanie, Trimble, Jammie, Mejia, Angie, Mitchell, S. Renee, Thomas, Mary Jo, Timmons, Vanessa, Waters, A. Star, Raymaker, Dora, Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2014 This article focuses on design, training, and delivery of a culturally-tailored, multi-faceted intervention which used motivational interviewing (MI) and case management to reduce depression severity among African American survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). We present the details of the intervention and discuss its implementation as a means of creating and providing culturally appropriate depression and violence services to African American women. We used a CBPR approach to develop and evaluate the multi-faceted intervention. As part of the evaluation, we collected process measures about the use of MI, assessed MI fidelity, and interviewed participants about their experiences with the program. Title: Motivational Interviewing at the Intersections of Depression and Intimate Partner Violence among African American Women Author: Wahab, Stéphanie, Trimble, Jammie, Mejia, Angie, Mitchell, S. Renee, Thomas, Mary Jo, Timmons, Vanessa, Waters, A. Star, Raymaker, Dora, Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2014 This article focuses on design, training, and delivery of a culturally-tailored, multi-faceted intervention which used motivational interviewing (MI) and case management to reduce depression severity among African American survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). We present the details of the intervention and discuss its implementation as a means of creating and providing culturally appropriate depression and violence services to African American women. We used a CBPR approach to develop and evaluate the multi-faceted intervention. As part of the evaluation, we collected process measures about the use of MI, assessed MI fidelity, and interviewed participants about their experiences with the program. Close

• 6. [Article] The Dynamics of Autistic-Academic Partnerships

  Traditionally, research about autistics has been developed without autistics, leading to systemic problems that reinforce stereotypes and divide communities. Some academics find the idea of autistics contributing ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Dynamics of Autistic-Academic Partnerships Author: Raymaker, Dora, Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2010 Traditionally, research about autistics has been developed without autistics, leading to systemic problems that reinforce stereotypes and divide communities. Some academics find the idea of autistics contributing meaningfully to research unthinkable, while the autistic community is often angered by research which holds no potential benefit, or is even directly harmful, to community aims. Problematic dynamics between academics and minority populations are neither new nor specific to autism research. Research approaches involving academic-community partnerships can change these dynamics to benefit all partners. Academic-community partnerships empower minorities to execute research relevant to community priorities and enable academics to perform high-quality, ethical science. Both formal and informal autistic-academic partnerships are now emerging on the cutting edge of autism research. This paper describes these research approaches and explores how they might change the perception of autistics in science and society. Title: The Dynamics of Autistic-Academic Partnerships Author: Raymaker, Dora, Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2010 Traditionally, research about autistics has been developed without autistics, leading to systemic problems that reinforce stereotypes and divide communities. Some academics find the idea of autistics contributing meaningfully to research unthinkable, while the autistic community is often angered by research which holds no potential benefit, or is even directly harmful, to community aims. Problematic dynamics between academics and minority populations are neither new nor specific to autism research. Research approaches involving academic-community partnerships can change these dynamics to benefit all partners. Academic-community partnerships empower minorities to execute research relevant to community priorities and enable academics to perform high-quality, ethical science. Both formal and informal autistic-academic partnerships are now emerging on the cutting edge of autism research. This paper describes these research approaches and explores how they might change the perception of autistics in science and society. Close

• 7. [Article] Health Care Workers' Expectations and Empathy toward Patients in Abusive Relationships

  Purpose: To understand attitudes that may affect health care workers' ability to provide appropriate long-term care for patients who stay with abusive partners. Methods: We surveyed 278 health care workers ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Health Care Workers' Expectations and Empathy toward Patients in Abusive Relationships Author: Nicolaidis, Christina, Curry, MaryAnn, Gerrity, Martha Year: 2005 Purpose: To understand attitudes that may affect health care workers' ability to provide appropriate long-term care for patients who stay with abusive partners. Methods: We surveyed 278 health care workers in 31 primary care practices before their participation in an educational intervention. Results: More than half of participants (51% to 60%) found it easy to empathize with a patient who decided to remain in an abusive relationship if the patient was described as poor or disabled, but few (25% to 39%) could empathize if the patient was described as educated or financially secure. A majority (57% to 59%) agreed with a statement meant to assess unrealistic expectations. (“A provider’s responsibility includes making sure a patient gets to a shelter right away if he or she discloses abuse.”) Participants who agreed with this statement had more difficulty empathizing with patients who decided to stay with an abusive partner (P .0045). Conclusions: Training efforts must focus on screening and on helping providers develop more realistic expectations about the complex nature of leaving an abusive relationship. Health care workers need a better understanding of the barriers patients face and why patients may choose to remain in abusive relationships, even in the absence of economic or health limitations. (J Am Board Fam Pract 2005; 18:159–65.) Title: Health Care Workers' Expectations and Empathy toward Patients in Abusive Relationships Author: Nicolaidis, Christina, Curry, MaryAnn, Gerrity, Martha Year: 2005 Purpose: To understand attitudes that may affect health care workers' ability to provide appropriate long-term care for patients who stay with abusive partners. Methods: We surveyed 278 health care workers in 31 primary care practices before their participation in an educational intervention. Results: More than half of participants (51% to 60%) found it easy to empathize with a patient who decided to remain in an abusive relationship if the patient was described as poor or disabled, but few (25% to 39%) could empathize if the patient was described as educated or financially secure. A majority (57% to 59%) agreed with a statement meant to assess unrealistic expectations. (“A provider’s responsibility includes making sure a patient gets to a shelter right away if he or she discloses abuse.”) Participants who agreed with this statement had more difficulty empathizing with patients who decided to stay with an abusive partner (P .0045). Conclusions: Training efforts must focus on screening and on helping providers develop more realistic expectations about the complex nature of leaving an abusive relationship. Health care workers need a better understanding of the barriers patients face and why patients may choose to remain in abusive relationships, even in the absence of economic or health limitations. (J Am Board Fam Pract 2005; 18:159–65.) Close

• 8. [Article] A Chronic Opioid Therapy Dose Reduction Policy in Primary Care

  Background: High-dose opioids prescribed for the treatment of chronic pain have been associated with increased risk of opioid overdose. Health systems and states have responded by developing opioid dose ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Chronic Opioid Therapy Dose Reduction Policy in Primary Care Author: Weimer, Melissa B., Hartung, Daniel M., Ahmed, Sharia, Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2016 Background: High-dose opioids prescribed for the treatment of chronic pain have been associated with increased risk of opioid overdose. Health systems and states have responded by developing opioid dose limitation policies. Little is known about how these policies affect prescribing practices or characteristics of patients who respond best to opioid tapers from high-dose opioids. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate change in total opioid dose after the implementation of a provider education intervention and a 120 mg morphine equivalents per day (MED) opioid dose limitation policy in one academic primary care clinic. We compared opioid prescriptions 1 year before and 1 year after the intervention. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess which patient characteristics predicted opioid dose reduction from high opioid dose. Results: Out of a total of 516 patients prescribed chronic opioid therapy, 116 patients (22%) were prescribed high-dose opioid therapy (>120 mg MED). After policy adoption, the average daily dose of opioids declined by 64 mg MED (95% confidence interval [CI]: 32–96; P < .001) and 41 patients (37%) on high-dose opioids tapered their doses below 120 mg MED (Tapered to Safer Dose group). In multivariate analyses, female sex was the only significant association with dose taper; female patients were less likely to taper to a safer dose (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11–0.70). Conclusions: A combined intervention of education and a practice policy that limits opioid doses for patients prescribed chronic opioid therapy may be an important component of system-level strategies to reduce opioid misuse and overdose; it may also help identify patients suitable for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Specific strategies may be needed to assist women with opioid dose tapers. Title: A Chronic Opioid Therapy Dose Reduction Policy in Primary Care Author: Weimer, Melissa B., Hartung, Daniel M., Ahmed, Sharia, Nicolaidis, Christina Year: 2016 Background: High-dose opioids prescribed for the treatment of chronic pain have been associated with increased risk of opioid overdose. Health systems and states have responded by developing opioid dose limitation policies. Little is known about how these policies affect prescribing practices or characteristics of patients who respond best to opioid tapers from high-dose opioids. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate change in total opioid dose after the implementation of a provider education intervention and a 120 mg morphine equivalents per day (MED) opioid dose limitation policy in one academic primary care clinic. We compared opioid prescriptions 1 year before and 1 year after the intervention. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess which patient characteristics predicted opioid dose reduction from high opioid dose. Results: Out of a total of 516 patients prescribed chronic opioid therapy, 116 patients (22%) were prescribed high-dose opioid therapy (>120 mg MED). After policy adoption, the average daily dose of opioids declined by 64 mg MED (95% confidence interval [CI]: 32–96; P < .001) and 41 patients (37%) on high-dose opioids tapered their doses below 120 mg MED (Tapered to Safer Dose group). In multivariate analyses, female sex was the only significant association with dose taper; female patients were less likely to taper to a safer dose (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11–0.70). Conclusions: A combined intervention of education and a practice policy that limits opioid doses for patients prescribed chronic opioid therapy may be an important component of system-level strategies to reduce opioid misuse and overdose; it may also help identify patients suitable for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Specific strategies may be needed to assist women with opioid dose tapers. Close

• 9. [Article] Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms

  Although many measures have been developed to assess menopausal symptoms, few demonstrate standardization, validity, or reliability. Some measures are based on self-reports of the presence, severity, and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms Author: Nelson, H. D., Haney, Elizabeth M., Humphrey, Laura, Miller, J., Nedrow, A., Nicolaidis, Christina, Vesco, Kimberly K., Walker, M., Bougatsos, Christina, Nygren, P. Year: 2005 Although many measures have been developed to assess menopausal symptoms, few demonstrate standardization, validity, or reliability. Some measures are based on self-reports of the presence, severity, and frequency of individual symptoms, such as hot flashes. Others utilize cumulative or global scores based on lists or scales of symptoms attributed to menopause, such as mood, cognition, quality of life, sexual function, and somatic symptoms. Many studies base their measures on study-specific checklists, questionnaires, or scales. Ninety-two measures of menopausal symptoms were reported by studies included in this evidence review. This systematic evidence review focuses on five Key Questions relating to symptoms of menopause and their management, as specified by the Planning Committee for the National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference on Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms. The target population includes adult women in the United States undergoing the menopausal transition. A Technical Expert Panel was assembled to provide input from experts and clinicians in the field to ensure that the scope of the project addressed important clinical questions and issues. The panel included obstetrician/gynecologists, internists, naturopathic physicians, behavioral experts, and researchers. The panel was convened for periodic conference calls during the course of the project. Expert reviewers, including several panel members, provided comments on the draft evidence report. Title: Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms Author: Nelson, H. D., Haney, Elizabeth M., Humphrey, Laura, Miller, J., Nedrow, A., Nicolaidis, Christina, Vesco, Kimberly K., Walker, M., Bougatsos, Christina, Nygren, P. Year: 2005 Although many measures have been developed to assess menopausal symptoms, few demonstrate standardization, validity, or reliability. Some measures are based on self-reports of the presence, severity, and frequency of individual symptoms, such as hot flashes. Others utilize cumulative or global scores based on lists or scales of symptoms attributed to menopause, such as mood, cognition, quality of life, sexual function, and somatic symptoms. Many studies base their measures on study-specific checklists, questionnaires, or scales. Ninety-two measures of menopausal symptoms were reported by studies included in this evidence review. This systematic evidence review focuses on five Key Questions relating to symptoms of menopause and their management, as specified by the Planning Committee for the National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference on Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms. The target population includes adult women in the United States undergoing the menopausal transition. A Technical Expert Panel was assembled to provide input from experts and clinicians in the field to ensure that the scope of the project addressed important clinical questions and issues. The panel included obstetrician/gynecologists, internists, naturopathic physicians, behavioral experts, and researchers. The panel was convened for periodic conference calls during the course of the project. Expert reviewers, including several panel members, provided comments on the draft evidence report. Close