There’s an undeniable women’s health gap that exists, and the latest women’s health research is providing more insight into this gap and what medical providers can do to help improve healthcare equity and access for women. Nurses and other medical professionals who want to specialize in women’s healthcare have a duty to understand the emerging women’s health trends so that they can provide all of their patients with the personalized care that they both need and deserve.
The trends in women’s health taking shape today will continue to impact the healthcare industry — and health outcomes for women — for years to come. As healthcare professionals and medical researchers work to address the gender health gap that exists, specialized and focused healthcare treatment plans for women will become the norm.
According to the World Economic Forum, the lack of extensive data related specifically to women’s health issues as well as underfunded research on female health issues has led to a gender health gap that is compromising the quality of life for women around the world. The World Economic Forum notes that women are likely to spend more than 25 percent more of their lives suffering from disease and chronic health conditions than men, and women are less likely to be diagnosed with a disease or chronic condition than men.
By advocating for women’s health, nurses and other healthcare professionals can work to promote improved access and equity. Recognizing the disparities that exist and actively working to remove barriers to quality healthcare can ensure that all women have access to the screening services and treatment options they need to live full and productive lives.
For decades, medical experts have known that screening and diagnostic testing have been crucial to the early detection of disease and to providing patients with the best possible outcomes. Recently, there has been a push to improve women’s health screening methods and to update diagnostic testing procedures to provide women with more accurate and precise results.
Per the Society of Women’s Health Research, women have been historically underrepresented when developing screening methods and testing procedures. In recent years, improved screening methods have been developed to address the specific needs and concerns of women, which is allowing providers to offer personalized medicine for women.
Recent advances in non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and genetic screening procedures allow parents to have a better understanding of the likelihood that genetic conditions could occur in their offspring. NIPT tests are performed using a pregnant woman’s blood, and the results indicate the probability of a genetic condition occurring. It is important to note, however, that these tests are not used as a diagnostic tool.
H3: Hormonal and Reproductive Health Testing
Women today have the opportunity to take advantage of hormonal and reproductive health testing throughout their lives, allowing them to gain more insight into their overall health and well-being. Hormonal and reproductive health testing can be used to:
Revised women’s health screening timelines and advanced early detection tools allow providers to diagnose women with chronic conditions as early as possible. This ultimately improves the care that they receive and ensuring that they can have the best possible outcomes.
Women’s health research shows that screening and diagnostic testing need improvement, while recent technological advances are helping provide women with the specialized care they deserve.
Advances in technology, as well as shifting cultural norms, have made telehealth more accessible for women around the world. Research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine details that telehealth technology can help improve women’s health management by:
Wearable health tech improvements let providers collect accurate, gender-specific data, instead of relying on research that may not have included many women in its sample. Additionally, wearable health tech can record and transmit data directly to the provider, giving them a better understanding of the unique needs of their individual patient.
Digital reproductive health platforms have been developed to address the gender health gap and improve access to reliable information about family planning services and reproductive healthcare information. Digital reproductive health platforms have successfully helped healthcare providers and medical experts reach underrepresented groups of women around the world. Further, it has provided these women the power to improve their bodily autonomy and make the decisions that are best for their health and well-being.
Minimally invasive surgical techniques allow providers to perform operations on patients in a way that improves results, reduces the recovery time associated with the procedure and significantly minimizes the risks of the operation. These techniques are making it more feasible for more women to have the procedures they need to live long and fulfilling lives.
The extreme demand for female technology products has given rise to the Femtech industry, which, according to the Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry online publication, is worth more than $50 billion worldwide. Femtech products have the ability to revolutionize women’s healthcare and improve healthcare outcomes for women of all ages.
Femtech is an abbreviation for female technology, and it is the term used to refer to the companies producing these specialized products. The term Femtech caught on in 2016, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, and it quickly took hold in the healthcare industry.
Personalized health apps for women are some of the most common examples of Femtech, with millions of women relying on these apps in their daily lives. From menstruation tracking apps to fertility apps, these personalized health apps are designed with the unique needs of women in mind.
One of the most pivotal ways that Femtech has revolutionized the women’s health sector is that it has provided healthcare professionals with extensive data about women, much of which has been missing from medical research throughout the years. Femtech innovations are driving the women’s health research sector forward, ensuring that more women have access to the personalized medicine that they need.
Not surprisingly, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to have a significant impact on women’s health technology around the world. Doctors and nurses are just beginning to understand the ways that AI can be leveraged in women’s healthcare, but this technology is likely to play a key role in the development of best practices and medical technology in the future.
AI technology can be used to interpret and analyze the data being collected by the leading health technology devices, ultimately enhancing the power of predictive analytics in women’s healthcare. AI healthcare tools can help fuel predictive analytics that can forecast outcomes for women based on personalized data and offer patients the customized advice and guidance that they need.
AI tools can be employed to enhance diagnostic accuracy, ensuring that there are fewer human-made errors in diagnostics and allowing women to get the personalized medical care that they need.
Machine learning allows providers to swiftly create personalized treatment plans for women based on the most recent data available, ultimately allowing doctors and nurses to provide patients with better care and improved outcomes.
At a time in their lives when they are particularly vulnerable, women can rely on virtual health assistants and other types of AI technology to receive the immediate guidance and advice that they need. For example, a woman who has recently given birth could work with a virtual health assistant to determine if her body is healing properly after the delivery. AI-powered healthcare assistants are expected to become more common in the coming years, particularly in light of the ongoing nursing shortage crisis.
Improvements in women’s health research and technology have allowed nurses to provide women with personalized preventative health strategies and lifestyle interventions that can enhance the quality of their lives.
Recognizing that nutrition and exercise play a pivotal role in both physical and mental health, many nurses are working to provide their patients with actionable advice that they can use on a daily basis.
Researchers and healthcare experts continue to update vaccination and screening recommendations for women, with an emphasis on preventative healthcare and early detection. For instance, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recently revised breast cancer screening recommendations for women, noting that women between the ages of 40 and 74 should have a mammogram performed every other year.
Digital health solutions will continue to play a pivotal role in promoting preventative care and providing women with the access to valuable information and healthcare resources they need to make the best decisions for themselves and for their general well-being.
As women’s health research begins to expand rapidly, there is a growing need for medical professionals who specialize in women’s health. At Keiser University Graduate School, we offer a Master of Science in Nursing, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner degree program that allows you to become a champion of women’s health for your patients. Our rigorous, skills-based curriculum allows you to become proficient in the most advanced women’s health technology while developing an in-depth understanding of the emerging health trends impacting the field today.
Contact a Graduate Admissions Counselor today to learn more about our degree programs.
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