Public beliefs about the consequences of living with obesity in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to capture public beliefs about living with obesity, examine how these beliefs have changed over time and to explore whether certain characteristics were associated with them in a nationally representative sample of adults from the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and Northern Ireland (NI). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey employed a random quota sampling approach to recruit a nationally representative sample of 1046 adults across NI and RoI. Telephone interviews captured information on demographics; health behaviours & attitudes; and beliefs about the consequences of obesity (measured using the Obesity Beliefs Scale). Univariable analyses compared beliefs about the consequences of living with obesity between participants with a self-reported healthy weight and those living with overweight or obesity, and non-responders (those for whom weight status could not be ascertained due to missing data). Multiple linear regression examined associations between obesity-related beliefs and socio-demographics, self-rated health and perceived ability to change health behaviours. Multiple linear regression also compared changes in obesity-related beliefs between 2013 and 2020 in the RoI. RESULTS: Higher endorsement of the negative outcomes of obesity was significantly associated with living with a healthy weight, higher self-rated health, dietary quality and perceived ability to improve diet and physical activity. Those who lived with overweight, with obesity and non-responders were less likely to endorse the negative consequences of obesity. Those living with obesity and non-responders were also more likely to support there is an increased cost and effort in maintaining a healthy weight. Comparison with survey data from 2013 showed that currently, there is a greater endorsement of the health benefits of maintaining a healthy weight (p < 0001), but also of the increased costs associated with it (p < 0001). CONCLUSION: Beliefs about the consequences of maintaining a healthy body weight are associated with individuals' weight, self-rated health, diet and perceived ease of adoption of dietary and exercise-related improvements. Beliefs about the health risks of obesity and perceived greater costs associated with maintaining a healthy weight appear to have strengthened over time. Present findings are pertinent to researchers and policy makers involved in the design and framing of interventions to address obesity.

Understanding the lived experience of women before and after fistula repair: a qualitative study in Kenya.

OBJECTIVE: To gain understanding of the first-hand experience of women prior to and following repair of a vaginal fistula, to determine the most effective support mechanisms. DESIGN: Qualitative phenomenological study using a series of in-depth semi-structured interviews at two time points: prior to fistula repair and 6 months post-surgery. Data were analysed thematically. SETTING: Three fistula clinics in three districts in Kenya. POPULATION: A purposive sample of 16 women suffering with vaginal fistula who were seeking fistula repair. METHODS: Thrity-two semi-structured interviews were conducted. RESULTS: The two main themes represented the women's journeys from social isolation to social reintegration. Women felt euphoric following fistula repair, believing that a 'miracle' had occurred. However, the 'post-miracle phase' demonstrated that the social and psychological impact of fistula leaves scars that are not easily healed, even when fistula repair is successful. CONCLUSION: Women's experiences of living with fistula have an impact beyond that which can be repaired solely by surgery. The findings from this study support the need for more active psychological assessment in the management of women with fistula, and the role of targeted psychological support in any package of care given in the post repair phase. The format of this support requires further study. Engagement by health professionals with the wider community could raise awareness of the causes of fistula, and provide support for significant others who may also be feeling vulnerable. It is likely that the collaborative efforts from health professionals and community members will provide the most effective support. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Fistula surgery alone is insufficient for women's physical, social and psychological recovery.

Fathers' views and experiences of their own mental health during pregnancy and the first postnatal year: a qualitative interview study of men participating in the UK Born and Bred in Yorkshire (BaBY) cohort.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of fathers' depression and anxiety in the perinatal period (i.e. from conception to 1 year after birth) is approximately 5-10%, and 5-15%, respectively; their children face increased risk of adverse emotional and behavioural outcomes, independent of maternal mental health. Critically, fathers can be protective against the development of maternal perinatal mental health problems and their effects on child outcomes. Preventing and treating paternal mental health problems and promoting paternal psychological wellbeing may therefore benefit the family as a whole. This study examined fathers' views and direct experiences of paternal perinatal mental health. METHODS: Men in the Born and Bred in Yorkshire (BaBY) epidemiological prospective cohort who met eligibility criteria (baby born <12 months; completed Mental Health and Wellbeing [MHWB] questionnaires) were invited to participate. Those expressing interest (n = 42) were purposively sampled to ensure diversity of MHWB scores. In-depth interviews were conducted at 5-10 months postpartum with 19 men aged 25-44 years. The majority were first-time fathers and UK born; all lived with their partner. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: 'legitimacy of paternal stress and entitlement to health professionals' support', 'protecting the partnership', 'navigating fatherhood', and, 'diversity of men's support networks'. Men largely described their 'stress' with reference to exhaustion, poor concentration and irritability. Despite feeling excluded by maternity services, fathers questioned their entitlement to support, noting that services are pressured and 'should' be focused on mothers. Men emphasised the need to support their partner and protect their partnership as central to the successfully navigation of fatherhood; they used existing support networks where available but noted the paucity of tailored support for fathers. CONCLUSIONS: Fathers experience psychological distress in the perinatal period but question the legitimacy of their experiences. Men may thus be reluctant to express their support needs or seek help amid concerns that to do so would detract from their partner's needs. Resources are needed that are tailored to men, framed around fatherhood, rather than mental health or mental illness, and align men's self-care with their role as supporter and protector. Further research is needed to inform how best to identify and manage both parents' mental health needs and promote their psychological wellbeing, in the context of achievable models of service delivery.

Perceptions and experiences of taking oral medications for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

AIMS: To explore patients' perceptions and experiences of taking oral medications for the pharmacological management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Cinahl, EMBASE, Medline and PsycINFO databases were searched in 2014 to identify qualitative studies exploring patients' perceptions or experiences of taking medications for the management of Type 2 diabetes. Key concepts and themes were extracted and synthesized using meta-ethnography. RESULTS: Eight studies were included. Primary study findings were synthesized to develop three higher-order constructs that moved beyond the results of individual studies. The first construct, Medications for diabetes: a necessary evil, outlines how patients' negative perceptions of medication risks co-exist with a resounding view that medications are beneficial. Passive patients but active experimenters highlights the contrast between patients' passive acceptance of medication prescriptions and the urge to actively experiment and adjust doses to optimize medication use in daily life. Finally, Taking oral medication for Type 2 diabetes: a unique context describes features specific to the Type 2 diabetes medication experience, including lack of symptoms and the perceived relationship between medication and diet, which may influence adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Medication-taking for Type 2 diabetes is a unique adherence context, which requires the development of condition-specific interventions. The present findings indicate patients understand the need for medications but adjust dosage and timing in their daily lives. This review suggests providers should acknowledge patient preferences in the development of management strategies, and highlights an opportunity to direct the motivation evident in patients' experimentation towards potentially more beneficial medication-taking behaviours.

Effects of interventions promoting monitoring of medication use and brief messaging on medication adherence for people with Type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of randomized trials.

AIMS: To assess the impact of interventions promoting the monitoring of medication use and brief messaging to support medication adherence in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to investigate the extent of theory use to guide intervention development. METHODS: We systematically searched for controlled trials, published from 1990 onwards in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and the Cochrane library, that evaluated interventions based on monitoring and brief messaging to support medication adherence in patients with Type 2 diabetes, to examine the effectiveness of such interventions. RESULTS: A total of 11 trials, comparing 15 interventions, were identified. Only a small minority presented a low risk of bias. Three interventions were based on delivering brief messages, six were based on monitoring medication adherence, and six used both strategies. Messaging interventions included the use of short message service text messages, web-based feedback, and messages delivered through monitoring devices. Monitoring interventions included remote self-reporting of medication and telephone calls with healthcare staff. Improvements in medication adherence were observed in six interventions, although effect sizes were generally moderate. Only two interventions improved both adherence and clinical outcomes. A meta-analysis of five trials (eight interventions) combining monitoring and messaging strategies showed that the pooled difference in medication adherence between intervention and control was moderate and not statistically significant [standardized mean difference = 0.22 (95% CI -0.05; 0.49)]. Only four trials were based on explicit theoretical frameworks. CONCLUSIONS: Although interventions based on messaging and monitoring have the potential to improve medication adherence in patients with Type 2 diabetes, evidence of their efficacy is limited and additional high-quality, theory-based research is needed.

Cryopreservation of Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) trochophore larvae.

The Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) is the main shellfish species farmed in New Zealand. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cryoprotectant concentration, loading and unloading strategy as well as freezing and thawing method in order to develop a protocol for cryopreservation of trochophore larvae (16-20 h old). Toxicity tests showed that levels of 10-15% ethylene glycol (EG) were not toxic to larvae and could be loaded and unloaded in a single step. Through cryopreservation experiments, we designed a cryopreservation protocol that enabled 40-60% of trochophores to develop to D-larvae when normalized to controls. The protocol involved: holding at 0 °C for 5 min, then cooling at 1 °C min⁻¹ to -10 °C, holding for a further 5 min, then cooling at 0.5 °C min⁻¹ to -35 °C followed by a 5 min hold and then plunging into liquid nitrogen. A final larval rearing experiment of 18 days was conducted to assess the ability of these frozen larvae to develop further. Results showed that only 2.8% of the frozen trochophores were able to develop to competent pediveligers.

What constitutes a 'good' recovery outcome in post-acute Guillain-Barré syndrome? Results of a nationwide survey of post-acute GBS sufferers in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Eighty percent of people with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) are said to achieve 'good' outcome. 'Good' outcome has been defined as either of the top two scores (0 = Healthy, 1 = minor symptoms or signs, able to run) on a 7-point ordinal scale called the F-score. This assessment of 'good' outcome appears to be an arbitrary benchmark. This study is the first assessment of the differences in outcome between post-acute GBS sufferers reporting these scores. It attempts to compare the physical and emotional differences between respondents reporting '0' and '1' on the F-Score. METHODS: A postal survey was administered to respondents through the UK Guillain-Barré Syndrome Support Group's national database and included items relating to general patient data, general mobility, F-Score, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, SF 36 and Fatigue Severity Scale. RESULTS: One thousand five hundred and thirty-five members were surveyed, and of 884/1535 (58%) questionnaires were returned. Results indicate significant differences between those scoring '0' on the F-Score and those scoring '1' in the post-acute phase in terms of anxiety, depression, physical functioning, fatigue and wheelchair use on discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly poorer outcomes for those scoring '1' on the F-Score suggest that only those scoring '0' should constitute a 'good' outcome in GBS.

A systematic review of motivational interviewing in physical health care settings.

PURPOSE: Motivational interviewing (MI), a method of augmenting an individual's motivation to change problematic behaviours, is a patient-centred counselling style that seeks to help patients resolve ambivalence about behaviour change. MI has successfully been used in the field of addictions and has recently received increased interest as a means of promoting treatment adherence in physical health care settings. This systematic review is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MI interventions in physical health care settings. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for articles specifying the use of 'motivational interviewing' in physical health care settings between 1966 and April 2004. Fifty-one relevant abstracts were yielded and data was extracted from eight relevant selected studies. RESULTS: Eight studies were identified in the fields of diabetes, asthma, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and heart disease. The majority of studies found positive results for effects of MI on psychological, physiological, and life-style change outcomes. Problems with research in this area include: small sample sizes, lack of power, use of disparate multiple outcomes, inadequate validation of questionnaires, poorly-defined therapy and training. CONCLUSIONS: While MI has high face validity across a number of domains in physical health care settings, the general quality of trials in this area is inadequate and therefore recommendations for its dissemination in this area cannot yet be made. More research into MI applied to health behaviour change is urgently required.

The relationship between restrained eating and poor psychological health is moderated by pleasure normally associated with eating.

This study investigated the relationship between restrained eating and poor psychological health, and the importance of pleasure normally associated with eating in this relationship. Pleasure normally associated with eating, restrained eating, and anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life were assessed concurrently by questionnaire. A relationship between restrained eating and poor psychological health was found--greater restrained eating was significantly independently associated with greater anxiety (B=1.099, p<0.01). Furthermore, pleasure associated with eating was an important moderator in this relationship--greater pleasure associated with eating combined with greater restrained eating was also significantly independently associated with greater anxiety (B=1.067, p=0.02). No effects were found for depression or satisfaction with life. These findings suggest that the pleasure normally associated with eating is important in the relationship between restrained eating and poor psychological health. Subsidiary exploratory analyses also suggest that the relationship between restrained eating and poor psychological health, and the importance of pleasure in that relationship, may differ in males and females.

Secrecy inhibits support: A grounded theory of community perspectives of women suffering from obstetric fistula, in Kenya.

AIM: this study aimed to gain understanding of the views of community members in relation to obstetric fistula. DESIGN AND METHOD: a qualitative, grounded theory approach was adopted. Data were collected using in-depth interviews with 45 community members. The constant comparison method enabled generation of codes and subsequent conceptualisations, from the data. SETTING: participants were from communities served by two hospitals in Kenya; Kisii and Kenyatta. Interviews took place either in the home, place of work, or hospital. FINDINGS: the core category (central concept) is 'secrecy hinders support'. This was supported by three themes: 'keeping fistula hidden', 'treatment being a lottery' and 'multiple barriers to support.' These themes represent the complexities around exposure of individual fistula sufferers and the impact that lack of information and women's status can have on treatment. Keeping fistula secret reinforces uncertainties around fistula, which in itself fuels myths and ignorance regarding causes and treatments. Lack of openness, at an individual level, prevents support being sought or offered. CONCLUSIONS: A multi-layered strategy is required to support women with fistula. At a societal level, the status of women in LMIC countries needs elevation to a level that provides equity in health services. At a national level, laws need to protect vulnerable women from mistreatment as a direct result of fistula. Furthermore, resources should be available to ensure provision of timely management, as part of routine services. At community level, awareness and education is required to actively engage members to support women locally. Peer support before and after fistula repair may be beneficial, but requires further research.

'I just wanted someone to tell me it wasn't all in my mind and do something for me': Qualitative exploration of acceptability of a CBT based intervention to manage chronic orofacial pain.

Introduction Evidence suggests that psychosocial management may produce improved outcomes for patients suffering from chronic orofacial pain (COFP), when symptoms cannot be attributed to pathology. A complex intervention, based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was developed by a multi-disciplinary team, using evidence synthesis. An important element of developing and evaluating complex interventions is to establish acceptability to stakeholders; therefore qualitative interviews with patients were carried out.Objectives To explore levels of acceptability of a complex intervention to manage COFP.Method Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 17 participants who had been referred to the intervention. Thematic analysis was used to identify emerging issues and themes from the data.Results Themes relating to processes of engagement with the intervention emerged. Important processes were: identification with the intervention; feeling believed and understood; obtaining a plausible explanation for symptoms; degree of perceived effort required to engage; acceptance of having a long-term condition; and receiving demonstrative, positive feedback.Conclusion Patients presenting with unexplained COFP in a secondary care setting are able to accept a CBT based intervention to manage their condition. Findings may offer guidance for dentists who are not used to referring patients to psychosocial interventions and inform the way dentists communicate the nature of unexplained symptoms to patients.

Oral contraceptives as risk factors for cervical adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas.

To assess the hypothesis that oral contraceptives (OCs) increase the risk of cervical adenocarcinomas, we conducted a six-center case-control study of 124 patients with adenocarcinomas, 139 with squamous cell carcinomas, and 307 population controls. Women between the ages of 18 and 69 who were newly diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinomas between 1992 and 1996 were eligible. Healthy female controls and a second case group of incident cervical squamous cell carcinomas were matched to the adenocarcinoma cases. All participants were interviewed regarding OCs, other risk factors for cervical carcinoma, and utilization of cytological screening, and a PCR-based test determined HPV genotype of cervical samples for both case groups and controls. Use of OCs was positively and significantly associated with adenocarcinomas and positively but weakly associated with squamous cell carcinomas. Associations between OCs and invasive adenocarcinomas (n = 91), squamous cell carcinoma in situ (n = 48), and invasive squamous cell carcinomas (n = 91) disappeared after accounting for HPV infection, sexual history, and cytological screening, but a positive association remained between current use of OCs and cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (n = 33). This association persisted after stratification by screening and sexual history and after restriction according to HPV status, but small numbers made it difficult to exclude detection bias, selection bias, or residual confounding by HPV as potential explanations Current OC use was associated with cervical adenocarcinomas in situ, but we saw no other evidence that OCs independently increase the risk of cervical carcinomas.

Evaluation of self-collected cervicovaginal cell samples for human papillomavirus testing by polymerase chain reaction.

As human papillomavirus (HPV) becomes accepted as the central cause of cervical cancer, longitudinal studies are shifting focus away from causality to a more detailed investigation of the natural history of HPV infections. These studies commonly require repeated samples for HPV testing over several years, usually collected during a pelvic exam, which is inconvenient to the participants and costly to the study. To alleviate the inconvenience and cost of repeated clinic visits, it has been proposed that women collect cervicovaginal cells themselves, hopefully increasing participation in the natural history studies. We evaluated the technical feasibility of self-collection of cervicovaginal cells using a Dacron swab for HPV DNA detection. We compared the self-collected swab sample and two clinician-administered swab samples (one from the endocervix and another from the ectocervix) from a total of 268 women participating in a case-control study of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix (111 cases and 157 controls). HPV DNA was detected and genotyped using an L1 consensus PCR assay. The overall agreement between the clinician- and self-collected swabs was excellent [88.1%; kappa = 0.73 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.61-0.85)]. The correlation was highest between the two clinician-administered swabs [kappa = 0.81 (95% CI, 0.69-0.93)] but was still excellent when comparing either clinician-administered swab to the self-administered sample [kappa = 0.75 (95% CI, 0.63-0.87) and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.55-0.79) for ectocervix and endocervix, respectively]. The type-specific agreement between samples was higher for high-risk, or cancer-associated, HPV genotypes than for low risk, noncancer-associated HPV genotypes when comparing the self-administered swab sample to the clinician-administered swab sample (kappa = 0.78 for high-risk versus 0.66 for low-risk HPV infections, t = -1.45, P = 0.15). The decrease in agreement for low risk types was largely attributable to an increased detection of these types in the self-administered sample (McNemar's chi2 = 6.25, P = 0.01 for clinician- versus self-administered swab comparisons). The agreement did not vary significantly by age, menopausal status, case status, or clinic center. We have demonstrated that a self-collected Dacron swab sample of cervicovaginal cells is a technically feasible alternative to clinician-administered cervical cell collection in natural history studies of HPV and cervical cancer.

Synthesis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids indicine, intermedine, lycopsamine, and analogues and their N-oxides. Potential antitumor agents.

(-)- and (+)-trachelanthic and (-)- and (+)-viridifloric acids were synthesized and their isopropylidene derivatives were regiospecifically coupled, at C-9, with (-)-retronecine obtained by hydrolysis of monocrotaline, isolated from Crotalaria spectabilis. Hydrolysis, followed by oxidation, led to the N-oxides of indicine, intermedine, lycopsamine, and the new nonnatural product, respectively. Each of these analogues was screened in the P388 lymphocytic leukemia system at the same time as indicine N-oxide, and the results were compared. Other related analogues were prepared and similarly screened and the results compared with those from indicine N-oxide.

Microinvasion in low malignant potential tumors of the ovary.

The presence of microinvasion (Mi) has not previously been investigated in nonserous low malignant potential (LMP) tumors of the ovary. In serous LMP tumors (SLMP), Mi has not worsened the prognosis compared with usual SLMP in previous reports. In a retrospective clinicopathologic review of 126 cases of serous and mucinous LMP (MLMP) tumors of the ovary, the authors identified 14 cases with Mi: seven of 72 SLMP, four of 44 mucinous intestinal LMP (MILMP), and three of 10 mucinous müllerian LMP (MMLMP). Tumors with Mi resembled usual LMP histologically except for small foci (up to 0.2 cm) in the stroma consisting predominantly of single cells or small clusters of cells, sometimes in a cribriform pattern. In SLMP-Mi, the cells had eosinophilic cytoplasm, and the stromal reaction was minimal/absent. In MILMP-Mi and MMLMP-Mi, nuclear staining was paler; the stroma often showed a fibrous reaction or edema, especially in MILMP-Mi. All 14 patients had follow-up (2.2 to 18.6 years) and were without evidence of disease. Careful screening of both mucinous and serous ovarian LMP can show Mi. Mi foci should be distinguished from true stromal invasion, pseudoinvasion, endothelial cells, decidual cells and histiocytes, and pseudomyxoma in mucinous LMP. Mi does not seem to worsen prognosis in MLMP and SLMP tumors of the ovary.

Ovarian cancer after hysterectomy.

Hysterectomy is the most common major operative procedure in the United States. The present review of 291 women with primary ovarian cancer of the epithelial cell type from the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area reveals 41 (14%) had a prior hysterectomy. The hysterectomies were performed abdominally in 80% of women at an average age of 41 years and vaginally in 20% at an average age of 46 years. The interval between hysterectomy and discovery of ovarian cancer was ten years in the vaginal group and 18 years in the abdominal group. Women who had their ovaries retained at hysterectomy and later developed invasive ovarian cancer had approximately an 80% mortality.

Misstaging of ovarian cancer.

The thoroughness of intraoperative evaluation of the extent of disease in 291 women with primary ovarian cancer was investigated. Notable differences among physician specialties but not types of hospitals where initial surgery was performed were observed. A review of medical record documentation revealed that 97% of the cases operated on by gynecologic oncologists had complete staging evaluations performed intraoperatively, but only 52 and 35% of cases operated on by obstetricians/gynecologists and general surgeons, respectfully, were adequately evaluated. Roughly one-half of the cases diagnosed in community hospitals and in hospitals with teaching affiliations were found to be completely studied, and 66% of those operated on in university hospitals received complete intraoperative evaluations.

Rates and risks of ovarian cancer in subgroups of white women in the United States. The Collaborative Ovarian Cancer Group.

OBJECTIVE: To provide estimates of the age-adjusted incidence and lifetime risk of ovarian cancer in subgroups of women defined by key risk factors. METHODS: We combined data from seven case-control studies (1122 cases and 5359 controls) with Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results incidence data to estimate the incidence rate and probability of developing ovarian cancer within subgroups of women defined according to the three major known risk factors: a history of ovarian cancer in the mother or sister, years of oral contraceptive (OC) use, and number of term pregnancies. RESULTS: Among women with no family history of ovarian cancer, the risk at age 65 varied from 0.3% among those who had had three or more term pregnancies and 4 or more years of OC use, to 1.6% among nulliparous women with no OC use. Among women with a positive family history, the risk of developing ovarian cancer by age 65 was estimated as 4.4% and the lifetime risk as 9.4%. The data were too sparse to estimate the risks associated with OC use and pregnancy among women with a positive family history. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing ovarian cancer within the total population of white women can be divided informatively into component risks within subpopulations. At birth, the estimated risk of developing ovarian cancer before age 65 for the total population is 0.8%, but the component risks vary 15-fold, from 0.3 to 4.4%.

Abdominal incisions and staging in ovarian cancer.

The type of abdominal incision--transverse or vertical--in 291 women with ovarian cancer and completeness of intraoperative evaluation of the extent of disease were investigated. Fourteen percent of woman had transverse incisions, 69% of which were the Pfannenstiel type. Half of the women who had transverse incisions and ovarian cancer were aged 50 years or older. A preoperative diagnosis presumptive of ovarian cancer was made in 93% of women; 71% of the transverse incision group had incomplete intraoperative evaluations of the extent of disease compared with 42% of the vertical incision group. A transverse incision should never be performed in women who are suspected to have ovarian cancer or in women who have ovarian or adnexal tumors and are over 30 years of age.

Epidemiology of ovarian cancer.

What factors influence a woman's chances of developing or avoiding ovarian cancer? Because early diagnosis is so difficult and this disease is usually diagnosed only in the late stages where treatment usually fails, physicians and women are becoming increasingly interested in answering this question. As a result of two studies conducted over the last fifteen years, certain risk factors have been identified, showing that a woman has a greater chance of developing ovarian cancer if she is white, married, has a family history of the disease, has no children or has a history of difficulty in conceiving, and has menopausal hot flashes. Chances of developing the disease are also greater in women who have a primary breast or colon tumor. Clinical conditions were utilization of these risk factors may contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality of ovarian cancer are suggested.