Background The goal of this project was to identify the educational needs of menopausal women and test the feasibility of an online self management program based on social learning theory. Methods The four stages included: (1) a needs assessment using a) focus groups with 24 women ages 40 – 55 and b) phone interviews with eight health experts, (2) the use of concept mapping methodology for quantifying qualitative data from Stage 1 to identify the core programmatic concepts, (3) development of a demonstration program, and (4) a pilot study with 35 women and nine health experts to assess knowledge gained and program satisfaction. Results Results show that women desire more information about normalcy of menopause and symptom management, found the program to meet a need for menopausal education otherwise perceived as unavailable, and they significantly increased their menopausal knowledge after brief exposure (t34= 3.64, p = .001). Conclusions This project provides support for an online health education program for menopausal women and content ideas for inclusion in women’s health education curriculum.

The United States is a strikingly mobile nation. Every year almost 20 percent of its population changes residence and about 45 percent moves at least once every five years. Relocation, however, can be a stressful life experience which impacts physical and emotional health and family life. Although there has been extensive research on the role of social support in moderating stress, there has been little attention in the literature to the way in which networks naturally evolve and change over time. This study of newly relocated adults describes the early development of social networks. Two structured interviews were completed three months apart. Although an increase in levels of intimacy occurred over time, the new networks were in transition and unstable. Newcomers received minimal social support even after several months and were increasingly dissatisfied with friendships. Implications for clinical practice and employee assistance programs are discussed.

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Relocation, however, can be a stressful life experience.

The decline and imminent death of an individual in a hospital's intensive care unit led to the creation of a transient group composed of family and friends. The dynamics of this tragic group are explored using the concepts provided by Social Systems theory. Ambiguity of the task structure and its inherent frustrations, fluidity of leadership and power, and failure of a utopian defense are all discussed as contributors to subsequent dissension and splitting. The social systems perspective provides a useful tool for understanding this naturally occurring group situation.