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Abstract
Survey techniques, which are widely used to estimate the prevalence of climacteric
symptoms, are generally unable to distinguish symptoms which relate to physiological
changes from those which may be attributable to other factors. New data collection
techniques developed in a study of menopause among a group of American Indians are
reported here, which permit the evaluation of the cause of the reported symptoms.
Two classes of complaints were then calculated: “gross” symptoms and “climacteric”
symptoms. It was found that differences between prevalence, as estimated by the two
classes of complaints, were smallest for vasomotor symptoms and greatest for psychological
complaints, reflecting presumed physiological relationships. Further, climacteric-related
symptoms demonstrated a clearer relationship to factors hypothesized by other researchers
as affecting the experience of climacteric symptoms. While not feasible for all studies,
these techniques demonstrate that more accurate estimates of symptom experience are
possible.
Keywords
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 18,
1980
Received:
August 14,
1980
Identification
Copyright
© 1981 Published by Elsevier Inc.