Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Endometriosis and Health Care System Utilization in British Columbia

This study in British Columbia, Canada, is investigating how women with endometriosis interact with the healthcare system. Endometriosis is a common condition causing pelvic pain and sometimes infertility, and it can significantly affect daily life. Researchers want to understand the true costs to the healthcare system and see if specialised, all-round care (called 'interdisciplinary care') helps reduce these costs by improving patients' health. They are also looking for clues in body tissues (biomarkers) that might predict how successful surgery will be for different women. Finally, the study will compare how healthcare use changed for women with endometriosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to see if the pandemic had an impact on their health and access to care. This research aims to improve care and reduce the long-term impact of endometriosis.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre

Enrolment target

1,000,000

Start

18 Oct 2022

Estimated completion

30 Sep 2027

Endometriosis

What is this study about?

This research study is all about understanding and improving care for women with endometriosis in British Columbia, Canada. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside of it. This can cause severe pelvic pain, problems with fertility, and can significantly affect a woman's daily life and overall well-being. It's a common condition but can be complex to manage.

The study has several important goals. Firstly, it wants to understand how women with endometriosis use healthcare services, including hospital visits and other medical care, and how much this costs the system. They are especially interested in seeing if a special type of care, called 'interdisciplinary care' – which combines different approaches like pain education, physiotherapy, and talking therapies – can actually reduce how much healthcare women need in the long run. They believe that by providing this comprehensive care, patients will feel better and require fewer medical interventions over time.

Secondly, the researchers are trying to find ways to predict who will benefit most from endometriosis surgery. They're looking at various factors, including other pain conditions a woman might have and specific markers in tissue samples (called 'biomarkers'), to see if these can help forecast how successful surgery will be and if a woman might need more surgery later on. This could help doctors tailor treatments more effectively. Lastly, the study will also look at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the healthcare use and outcomes for women with endometriosis, comparing data from before and during the pandemic to see if there were any significant changes.

Key takeaways

The study investigates healthcare use and costs for women with endometriosis in British Columbia.
It aims to see if specialised, all-round care can reduce healthcare needs.
Researchers are looking for clues to predict how well surgery will work for endometriosis.
It will examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected care for endometriosis patients.
The study uses existing, anonymised health records, so no direct participation is needed.

Who may be eligible?

This study is a bit different because it's looking back at existing medical information rather than asking people to sign up for new treatments or tests. The researchers will be looking at health records that have already been collected.

To be included in the study, a person must be female and have been living in British Columbia, Canada, at any point between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2021. There are no age restrictions for this study.

This means that individuals themselves aren't actively 'joining' the study. Instead, researchers are using anonymised data that already exists within the healthcare system to understand patterns and trends in endometriosis care.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you female?
Did you live in British Columbia between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2021?
If these apply, your anonymised health data may be included in the study.

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study is primarily looking at existing health records and medical information from a large group of people in British Columbia. This means that individuals won't actively participate by attending appointments, taking new medications, or undergoing specific tests for this study. The researchers are using information that has already been collected as part of your routine healthcare or by previous studies you might have been involved in. Therefore, there are no specific visits, assessments, or follow-up actions required from you for this particular research. Your personal information will be kept confidential and anonymised.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study is using existing, anonymised health records, there are no direct physical risks to participants. All personal information will be handled with strict confidentiality, ensuring your identity is protected. The main benefit of this research is to improve our understanding of endometriosis and how healthcare services can be better designed to support women with this condition. This could lead to more effective treatments and better patient experiences in the future, ultimately reducing the burden of endometriosis on individuals and the healthcare system. Because this is a review of existing data, you are not directly involved in 'withdrawing' from the study; your past data may be used anonymously.

Locations (1)

BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre
Verified postcode
Vancouver, Canada

Common questions

What is the main goal of this study?

The study aims to understand how women with endometriosis in British Columbia use healthcare services, evaluate the effectiveness and cost-savings of specialized care, identify factors predicting surgery outcomes, and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their care.

Do I need to sign up for this study?

No, you don't need to sign up. This study uses existing, anonymised health records from females in British Columbia, so your medical information might be included in the anonymous data analysis.

Will my personal details be shared?

No. All personal information will be kept strictly confidential and anonymised before being used in the study, meaning your identity will not be discoverable by the researchers.

What is 'interdisciplinary care'?

Interdisciplinary care is an approach that brings together different types of healthcare professionals, like pain specialists, physiotherapists, and counsellors, to provide comprehensive and tailored support for your condition.

How might this study help people with endometriosis?

By understanding healthcare patterns and treatment effectiveness, this study hopes to improve how endometriosis is managed, reduce healthcare costs, and ultimately lead to better health outcomes and quality of life for women with the condition.