Measuring indices of lifelong estrogen exposure: self-report reliability.
Climacteric
; 12(5): 387-94, 2009 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19142763
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The utility of clinical markers of lifelong estrogen exposure is established in the understanding of breast cancer, osteoporosis and dementia, among others. However, a good number of studies rely on self-reports to ascertain the involvement of certain estrogen exposure indices. The goal of this study is to assess the reliability of self-reported lifelong estrogen exposure indices by measuring correlation between two repeats.METHODS:
A questionnaire assessing lifelong indices of estrogen exposure was developed (revised version included) and completed by 36 healthy postmenopausal women twice within a 4-year interval (age range from 50 to 79 years). Reliability was tested using Pearson's correlation coefficient.RESULTS:
Strong significant correlations were observed for most estrogen exposure indices and an effect of age was revealed. Age at menopause and age at initiation of hormone therapy were the two variables leading to weaker correlations across time of measurements; no relation was found between Time 1 and Time 2 when looking at the group of older women (over 65 years of age).CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, these results support the use of self-reported measures for most of the lifelong estrogen exposure indices, but they also warn us about the pitfalls of the climacteric period. However, the design of the current study did not allow us to test accuracy; thus, the validity of these self-reported variables needs to be addressed in the future.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Inquéritos e Questionários
/
Estrogênios
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Climacteric
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article