HER-BC: Health and Economics Research on Midlife Women in British Columbia
Exploring the experiences and health behaviours of midlife women during the menopause transition, to better understand barriers to care, impacts to work and caregiving, and influence on daily living and quality of life.
About Our Research
The Women’s Health Research Institute, in partnership with Pacific Blue Cross and the BC Women’s Hospital Foundation, is investigating the physical and psychological health experiences of midlife women. Of particular interest is the transition through menopause, its associated symptoms, and their impact to daily living, quality of life, work productivity and caregiving responsibilities. The study is in two phases. Phase I was an online survey that assessed current health conditions, menopause symptoms, health care access and barriers, work force participation and caregiving.
Participants were:
- Between the ages of 39 to 60.
- Residents of BC
- Assigned female at birth, and
- Identify as a woman, gender diverse, or trans
The research team is now preparing for Phase II of the project, in-depth interviews to explore themes that emerge from the survey data. Participants of the survey who consented to be contacted, and are selected for interviews, will be emailed in May 2024 for further details.
- Q: When will you announce winners of the participant lottery?
- A: We are in the process of cleaning the survey data and will conduct the draw by April 30, 2024. Check your email regularly to see if you’ve won a $50, $100, $250, or $500 gift card to a Canadian retailer. Good luck to all our participants!
Who We Are
The research team is comprised of clinician scientists from psychology, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, including specialties in pain, health economics, a methodologist and biostatistician, and knowledge mobilization, in collaboration with patient partners.
Investigators
– Dr. Lori Brotto, Principal Investigator
– Dr. Gina Ogilvie, Co-Investigator
– Dr. Marina Adshade, Co-Investigator
– Dr. Paul Yong, Co-Investigator
– Laurie Smith, Co-Investigator
Collaborators
– Shirley Weir, Menopause Chicks
Project Team
– Sabina Dobrer, Senior Statistician
– Kathryn Dewar, Senior Research Manager
– Nicole Prestley, Knowledge Translation Manager
– Amy Booth, Research Coordinator
– Cynthia Lin Hsieh, Primary Contact for HER-BC, Lead Research Coordinator
Are You A Midlife Woman With Lived Experience?
We are looking for a patient-partner to join the HER-BC Research Team. Your first-hand experience of midlife and menopause can help us better integrate patient priorities into the research project, including providing feedback on 1) recruitment strategies, 2) dissemination of findings and outcomes to a public audience, and 3) exploring areas of future research in midlife women's health.
We will provide patient-partners a stipend for their time. Estimated time commitment is 10 to 15 hours, although you can decide your level of involvement with what you feel comfortable with.
Please email us at herbc(at)phsa.ca to let us know you are interested!
