"It's about time": College women's perceptions of gynecologic health.
OBJECTIVE
To examine college women's perceptions of gynecologic health, with a particular emphasis on healthcare decision making. Women's perceptions of health promotion efforts that would influence gynecologic health were also examined.


METHODS
Verbatim transcripts of individual and focus group interviews from 34 college women, 18-25 years of age, were thematically analyzed. Questions related to women's decisions to seek gynecologic health care and their healthcare experiences with providers.


CONCLUSIONS
Three themes were identified: (dis)connecting with their changing bodies, experiencing the healthcare encounter, and making healthcare decisions. Results suggest that college can be "the time" when college women begin to think about and act on decisions about gynecologic health. Implications for practice By acknowledging college women's multidimensional definitions of health and knowledge of healthy behaviors, advanced practice nurses can assist women in developing strategies for enacting these definitions and integrating desired healthy behaviors into their busy college lives.
Canales
Mary K
MK
Department of Nursing, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
Carr
Jeanine
J
Wohlberg
Jeri
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology; D009511:New England; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health