Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Performance of Ultrasound in Women With Postmenopausal or Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Between White and Black Ethnic Groups- a Retrospective Cohort Study.

This study, called "Performance of Ultrasound in Women With Postmenopausal or Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Between White and Black Ethnic Groups," is looking back at records from 2022. It focuses on women aged 45 and over who had unusual vaginal bleeding, which can sometimes be a sign of womb (endometrial) cancer. These women attended a special gynecology clinic for quick appointments. The main goal is to find out if ultrasound scans are less clear or 'uninformative' for Black women compared to White women. Researchers will check information like age, weight, and past surgeries, along with ultrasound findings, to understand if ethnicity plays a role in how helpful these scans are for detecting potential problems.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

King's College Hospital NHS Trust

Enrolment target

330

Start

31 Jan 2024

Estimated completion

15 Jul 2024

Postmenopausal Bleeding Endometrial Cancer

What is this study about?

This study is about understanding how effective ultrasound scans are for women experiencing unusual vaginal bleeding. This type of bleeding can sometimes be a warning sign for womb cancer, especially after menopause. Doctors often use ultrasound scans to look at the lining of the womb (the endometrium) and decide if more tests are needed, like taking a small sample of tissue.

Researchers are looking back at the medical records of women who visited a special clinic in 2022. These women were aged 45 or older and had bleeding that worried their doctors enough to check for womb cancer. The study is particularly interested in comparing how clear and helpful the ultrasound scans were for White women versus Black women. This is because sometimes, certain medical procedures might work differently or be harder to get good results from, depending on a person's background.

By gathering information about the women's health, their scan results, and what treatment they eventually received, the study hopes to learn if there's a difference in how well ultrasound works for different ethnic groups. This information could help doctors provide better and more accurate care for all women with unusual bleeding.

Key takeaways

The study examined existing medical records from 2022.
It focused on women aged 45+ with unusual vaginal bleeding.
The main goal was to compare ultrasound clarity between White and Black women.
It aimed to see if ethnicity affects how helpful ultrasound scans are.
No new tests or appointments were involved for patients.

Who may be eligible?

This study looked back at information from women who had already visited a specific gynecology clinic in 2022. To be included in the study, these women had to be 45 years old or older.

They would have attended the clinic because they were experiencing unusual vaginal bleeding, and their doctors were checking for potential womb cancer. It was also important that their ethnic background was clearly written down in their medical notes.

If a woman's ethnicity wasn't recorded in her medical notes, her information would not have been included in this particular study.

Quick self-check

Were you 45 years old or older in 2022?
Did you attend a 'two-week wait' gynaecology clinic in 2022?
Was it for suspected womb cancer due to unusual vaginal bleeding?
Was your ethnic background recorded in your medical notes?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

Since this is a 'retrospective' study, it means researchers are looking back at existing medical records and information that has already been collected. No new appointments, tests, or procedures were asked of patients. You would not have been asked to take any new medication or have any follow-up visits specifically for this study. The study simply used data that was already in your medical file from your clinic visit in 2022. Therefore, there was no active participation or time commitment required from individuals.

Potential risks and benefits

As this study involved looking back at existing anonymised medical records, there were no direct physical risks or benefits to individuals. Your personal information would have been handled with strict confidentiality. The main potential benefit is that the findings could help doctors understand if ultrasound scans are equally effective for all women. This knowledge might lead to improvements in how doctors use and interpret ultrasounds, potentially leading to earlier and more accurate diagnoses for all. Since no new data was collected, there was no option for individuals to withdraw from participation as the data had already been gathered.

Locations (1)

Suite 8, King's College Hospital
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is 'postmenopausal bleeding'?

This is any vaginal bleeding after you have gone through menopause and your periods have stopped for at least 12 months.

What is 'abnormal uterine bleeding'?

This is any unusual bleeding from the womb, such as very heavy periods, bleeding between periods, or bleeding after sex.

Why is an ultrasound scan important for this type of bleeding?

An ultrasound helps doctors look at the lining of your womb to see if there are any changes that might need further investigation.

What does 'uninformative ultrasound' mean?

This means the ultrasound scan wasn't clear enough for the doctor to get all the information they needed about the womb lining.

Will this study change my medical care?

No, this study is looking at past information. However, its findings could help improve future medical care for women with similar conditions.