Rowena Dolor continues to champion primary care research in her leadership role as the director of the Primary Care Research Consortium (PCRC), a network of primary care practices in the Duke University Health System and outlying communities. She is a primary care physician herself and serves on staff in the Ambulatory Care Service at the Durham VA Medical Center.
On July 12, 2016, Dr. Dolor is giving an oral presentation for a national conference that she co-chairs, the North American Primary Care Group (NAPCRG) Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) Conference in Bethesda.
The presentation delivers the results of a collaborative project involving clinical practice networks in Wisconsin, North Carolina, and the Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association (IPMA), a study evaluating the use of shared decision making (SDM) between patients and providers to improve clinical care for women with post-menopausal vulvo-vaginal atrophy (VVA). The initiative is targeting increased awareness and improved diagnosis. This is Shared Decision Making and improved Quality of Life (QOL) for the treatment of symptomatic vulvovaginal atrophy in women ages 50-80.
We have received positive feedback on the online educational module and brochures from the participants and providers that were involved in the project. Several providers have asked if they can share this with colleagues and continue to use the resources after the study ends in August. We are ready to disseminate widely so that others can benefit from these resources.
according to Dr. Dolor
We want to acknowledge the collaboration with these Duke clinical practices:
Anne Ford MD, Duke OB-GYN
Duke Primary Care Hillsborough
Sutton Station Internal Medicine
Women’s Health Associates – Brier Creek
Duke Primary Care Henderson
Durham OBGYN
Duke Primary Care Croasdaile
Women’s Health Associates – Patterson Place
We learned more about this important topic:
Remember ‘the talk’ where mothers talk with their teenage daughters about sex? Raising Awareness: Starting the Conversation- Vulvovaginal Atrophy takes this ‘coming of age’ tradition to the next generation.
VulvoVaginal Atrophy, or “VVA” for short, is also called genitourinary syndrome of menopause. VVA can cause a variety of annoying symptoms. Less estrogen leads to thinner, dryer skin and can make a woman feel uncomfortable in daily activities, during sexual activity, or during a clinical exam.
Many women are uncomfortable or embarrassed to discuss symptoms of menopause, and therefore, suffer in silence.
The project team has developed a variety of documents and other resources for clinicians and patients to raise awareness and facilitate the treatment decision process.
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Follow Dr. Dolor on Twitter @RowenaDolorMD
