The Experience of Living With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in the Military

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to understand the experience of living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as an active duty Service Woman. As part of a budding research program, this proposed study will lay the groundwork for future intervention studies targeting the management of PCOS in a military population.

Detailed Description
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Using a qualitative descriptive approach with focus groups (FG) and individual interviews (II), the investigators will seek to describe the experience of living with PCOS as an active duty service woman (ADSW). This method will allow the investigators to obtain a comprehensive summary of living with PCOS in the every day terms of ADSW. The discussion in the (FG) meetings will be an effective way to supply information about what people think, or how they feel, or on the way they act. Advantages of this method include: (a) it can cover a large number of people in one session, (b) it is an efficient way of gaining a large amount of information in a short time, (c) it is comparatively easier to drive or conduct, and (d) it generates an opportunity to collect data from the group interaction, which concentrates on the topic of the researcher's interest [64, 65]. This proposed study will focus on six primary areas of inquiry: (a) experience of receiving PCOS diagnosis (b) symptoms experienced and methods of coping with them, (c) military-specific experience of managing and living with PCOS, (d) access to/availability of information related to PCOS and how they have applied it, (e) experience of support, and (f) present and future concerns about having PCOS.

Official Title
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The Experience of Living With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in the Military

Conditions
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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: No intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Women, active duty or prior (within 5 years) in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps Diagnosed with PCOS 18 years of age or over Exclusion Criteria: Reservist, Coast Guard, women who have separated or retired > 5 years ago

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Focus Group<br>Active Duty Air Force, Army and Navy women diagnosed with PCOS. Up to three focus groups per service branch will be conducted. Considering attrition for those who may volunteer and not show up for the FG session, the investigators will recruit up to 20 participants per site, with the goal of including a maximum of six participants per FG to maximize individual participation. | Other: No intervention<br>* No intervention<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Describe the PCOS experience of active duty service members | Information from focused groups (FG) discussions and individual interviews (II) will be transcribed, categorized and then organized into themes that describe the experiences of active duty service members | through study completion, up to 18 months | 
| Describe the PCOS experience by branch of service | Information from focused groups (FG) discussions and individual interviews (II) will be transcribed, categorized and then organized into themes that describe the experiences by branch of service | through study completion, up to 18 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Military, Service Women, Active Duty