Ever considered participating in a study to benefit research on epilepsy? If you are a woman with epilepsy between the ages of 24 and 44 then Amanda Dennis, a researcher at Ibis Reproductive Health, wants to talk to you. Amanda and the folks at Ibis are looking for women to take part in an in-depth telephone interview to discuss their experiences with epilepsy and with making decisions about contraception, and pregnancy.
However, before I was ready to post info on a study on this epilepsy blog, I needed to do a little Q&A of my own. I thought if I was going to encourage you to do a telephone interview, then Amanda should answer a few questions too. To read what she had to say, check out my interview below:
Interview with researcher Amanda Dennis
What prompted you to do the study?
As a woman with epilepsy, I have been interested in this topic for a long time. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 11. Currently 31 years old, I have talked to a number of different health care providers along the way about my own contraception and pregnancy decisions, and have often received conflicting or incomplete advice from different doctors.
I am now a full time researcher at Ibis Reproductive Health and am completing my doctorate in public health at Boston University. My dissertation seemed like a perfect opportunity to talk with other women with epilepsy about their experiences making decisions about contraception and pregnancy, as well as their experiences talking to various doctors about these decisions. There is little understanding of how women with epilepsy make these decisions. As these are some of the most important decisions women can make in their lives, I believe this topic is an important one and one in need of research.
What do you hope to gain from the study?
I hope this study makes at least a small contribution to improving reproductive health care and neurological care for women with epilepsy. It is critical that the voices and perspectives of women with epilepsy are documented so that health care providers can better understand the contraceptive and reproductive health needs of women with epilepsy, and tailor their clinical advice appropriately.
How long will the study go on?
I anticipate the study will last another six to eight months.
How many participants have you interviewed? do you hope to interview?
I have interviewed six women so far and hope to interview anywhere between thirty and fifty in total.
Do you have anything you would like to say to women considering participating in the study?
I want to thank women for considering participating in the study and encourage them to contact me if they have any questions about the study. I have learned so much from the few interviews I have completed so far, and I look forward to learning more in future interviews.
Details on the study
Participate in a telephone research study for women with epilepsy!
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We are looking for women to take part in an in-depth telephone interview to discuss their experiences with epilepsy and with making decisions about contraception, and pregnancy.
Your participation in the study would involve one telephone interview that will last 30 to 60 minutes and can be conducted at a time that is most convenient for you.
You are eligible to participate if you:
· are female
· have epilepsy
· between 24-44 years old
· speak fluent English
· live in the US
Call or email to see if you are eligible!
You will be reimbursed with a $50 Amazon gift card for your time.
For additional information regarding this study or to enroll, please respond to this posting or contact us study@ibisreproductivehealth.
Let us know by commenting below if you would like to see more information like this.
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