Results indicate health behavior change is more likely to occur when patient-centered interventions design ed to increase knowledge and health beliefs , skills and abilities  , and  social facilitation  are delivered over time .
Little is known about the dimensions of osteoporosis prevention programs essential to changing health behaviors .
The purpose of this review was to determine the impact of select characteristics of structured osteoporosis prevention programs on calcium intake in women .
Modeling women's health during the menopausal transition: a longitudinal analysis
Objective : There has been controversy about the relative effects on various health outcomes of hormonal , psychosocial , and lifestyle changes during the menopausal transition . In previous studies the risk factors for one particular health endpoint have been analyzed separately . Separate analyses do not provide an overall view of the relationships between all the variables or the relative importance of different factors . Thus , the objective of this study was to provide an overall analysis of the influence of hormonal changes during the menopausal transition on a range of health outcomes while simultaneously considering all the available predictors and all the endpoints and to test the hypothesis that prior health status predicts current health status . Design : This was a 9-year prospect i ve observational study of 438 Australian-born women , who at baseline were aged 45 to 55 years and had menstruated in the prior 3 months .  Interviews were conducted and fasting blood and physical measurements were performed annually . Results : Main outcome measures were hormone levels , sociodemographic variables , attitudes and lifestyle variables , self-rated health and well-being , bothersome symptoms , coronary heart disease risk , bone mineral density , and sexuality .  Data from 336 women , 77 % of the original sample , were analyzed . Statistical modeling using structural equations showed that for all health endpoints , the prior level of that variable was the most important predictor . Declining levels of estradiol during the menopausal transition affected certain health outcomes : bone mineral density , coronary heart disease risk , vasomotor symptoms , vaginal dryness , and sexual response . Well-being is negatively affected by symptoms , hassles , and stress . Exercise  has beneficial effects on hot flushes , well-being , body mass index , and coronary heart disease risk . Relationship factors and mood affect sexual response . Conclusions : This observational study provides a conceptual data -based framework for underst and ing changes in women 's health during the natural menopausal transition
Results indicate health behavior change is more likely to occur when patient-centered interventions design ed to increase knowledge and health beliefs , skills and abilities  , and  social facilitation  are delivered over time .
Little is known about the dimensions of osteoporosis prevention programs essential to changing health behaviors .
The purpose of this review was to determine the impact of select characteristics of structured osteoporosis prevention programs on calcium intake in women .