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Table 1 Data elements in telephone questionnaire, the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study

From: A multi-center population-based case–control study of ovarian cancer in African-American women: the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study (AACES)

Category

Variables

Demographics

Age, education, income, occupation

 

Date and place of birth, race, ethnicity, marital status, parents race and place of birth;

Menstrual history

Age at menarche, length and regularity of menstrual cycle; menstrual status, age and reason when (if) periods stopped; menopausal symptoms

Pregnancy history

Number of pregnancies, age and outcome of each pregnancy; breast feeding history for each live birth

Infertility

Difficulty becoming pregnant; Doctor diagnosed infertility and underlying condition; fertility treatment

Contraceptive and hormone use

Birth control method: number of episodes, age of first use and length of use; Ever use of male or female hormones: type of hormone and number of episodes, age at first use and length of use.

Medical and gynecologic history

All variables in the self-reported Charlson Co-Morbidity Index; Hysterectomy; Oophorectomy; Ovarian Cysts; Fibroids; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome; Abnormal PAP smear; Ectopic pregnancy; Tubal ligation

Symptoms

Type and length of symptoms including: pelvic abdominal discomfort; change in bowel habits; frequent or painful urination; distended or hard abdomen; lump on abdomen; fatigue or loss of appetite; side or back pains; abnormal bleeding; weight gain, swelling, or water retention; nausea, vomiting, heartburn or indigestion

Medication use

Name of medications for pain or inflammation: underlying condition/ indication, age at first and last use, and length of use of medications

 

Name of current prescription medications: underlying condition/indication and length of use

Radiation exposure

X-rays and other imaging procedures: type and age at time of procedure, part of body scanned, and reason for the scan.

Family history of cancer

1st and 2nd degree relatives; age/age at diagnosis

Insurance, access to care

Type of insurance coverage over the last ten years; where medical care was received; access to a regular doctor; interruptions in access to care, receipt of breast and/or cervical cancer screening

Trust in physicians

Trust in physician scale

Social support

Perceived Social Support

Perceived discrimination

Perceived discrimination – major and everyday discrimination

Religiosity and spirituality

Religious services attendance, spirituality, religious affiliation.

Cultural and folk beliefs

Cultural and folk beliefs about fatalism and what causes cancer

Smoking

Smoking status; number of cigarettes per day; age first smoked and number of years smoked; exposure to environmental smoke

Sun exposure

Time spent outdoors by season: summer or spring/winter/fall; Skin effects

Talc use

Regular use of cornstarch, talc, baby or deodorizing powders; age at first use, frequency of use and duration of use, use by sexual partner; occupational exposure to talc or asbestos; lived with someone who worked with talc or asbestos

Height and weight

Self-reported current height and weight; weight gain and loss history; weight at age 18.

Physical activity

Average weekly exercise during the last 12 months (based on International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form); job-related physical activity