Communicating endometriosis with young women to decrease diagnosis time

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Medical Education
• Public Health Communication

Background:

• Endometriosis affects 10% of women, yet a significant diagnostic delay of 6.7 years is common.
• Limited data exists on effective communication strategies for discussing endometriosis with young women.
• Early detection of endometriosis is crucial for improving health outcomes and fertility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess young women's existing knowledge of endometriosis.
• To identify young women's information needs regarding endometriosis.
• To determine optimal communication channels for promoting early endometriosis detection.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to women aged 16-25 years.
• Advertisements for the survey were disseminated via social media (Facebook, Twitter), email, and physical flyers at educational institutions.
• 131 women completed the survey.

Main Results:

• 52% of participants had heard of endometriosis, with many holding vague or inaccurate understandings.
• A strong majority (89%) believed teenagers should be educated about endometriosis, with 78% including young men.
• Preferred information sources included schools (40%), the Internet (22%), and magazines (13%), with doctors (75%), parents (59%), and friends (51%) being trusted confidants.

Conclusions:

• Young women express a strong desire to learn about endometriosis, especially its symptoms.
• Schools and the Internet are identified as key channels for disseminating endometriosis information.
• Health promotion initiatives should leverage these preferred sources to enhance early detection efforts.