Millennial Women Voice Their Perspective on Health

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May 02, 2016, 08:39 ET

PITTSBURGH, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's Health Conversations ignited a national conversation with the belief that today's women can transform our nation's health for the betterment of all, our culture, economy and the world. The lifestyle brand includes signature events, iTunes podcast, books and online community reaching 6.8 million in 2015.

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www.womenshealthconversations.com Highlight Reel: https://youtu.be/2n1M0QwqP58

To reach millennial women, the largest generational cohort in US history, Dr. Vonda Wright partnered with Campos, Inc. to conduct a qualitative study investigating (a) how to actively engage Millennial women in the process of changing healthcare and (b) the ways Millennial women define healthcare, their healthcare needs, and expectations today and in the future.

Respondents ranged in age from 22-36 years old, held college or post-graduate degrees, were working professionals and most were single.

Seven major themes emerged from the research. Three are released here:
(1) "The Meaning of Health," (2) "Procedural to Preventative" and (3) "Sex is Healthy

The Meaning of Health:

Millennial women described health as total wellbeing − physical, mental, and spiritual and contrasted this with the current healthcare model that emphasizes disease management. They wanted to minimize their need and use of the healthcare system in contract to their perception of previous generations' view of health:

"Health is being active, spry, energized, and alive. It's a combination of the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional state. My parents think of health and healthcare as a way to help only when you become sick."

Procedural to Preventive:

WHC study participants engage in preventative and holistic health behaviors and strongly believe preventative behaviors could drive the current healthcare system into reform. Participants estimated that 25% of their total monthly income is spent on preventative and integrative behaviors. Respondents expressed skepticism about doctors and pharmaceutical companies who were only concerned with prescriptive care.

"Why isn't massage or acupuncture covered under insurance? I think the whole system is focused on procedures and not prevention, there needs to be a shift."

Sex is Health:

Millennial women identified "sex" as a healthy behavior and accessible contraception for all women was strongly related to this notion of health. Relationships greatly impacted their overall feeling of health and they listed sex in their top three health behaviors.

Millennial women recognize the political and polarized landscape around women's reproductive health and articulated a desire for policy changes in childcare, alternative contraception, birthing, hospital stay-time options and family paid leave.

"I know one day I want to have a baby, how am I going to do this with my current employer?' We are one of the only industrialized countries that doesn't have paid family leave."

Dr. Vonda Wright will release the remaining data during the first "HOT for your Health" lifestyle networking experiencing focusing on the crossroads of creativity, health and technology, May 4^th at the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh at 5:30pm.

To join the conversation and learn more about this study contact Dr. Vonda Wright.

Dr. Vonda Wright is an orthopedic surgeon and internationally recognized authority on active aging and mobility. She is the founder and CEO of Women's Health Conversations and the lifestyle brand, HOT for you Health. www.womenshealthconversations.com Highlight Reel: https://youtu.be/2n1M0QwqP58 She specializes in sports medicine and is the Medical Director of the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. In addition to her surgical practice, Dr. Wright is a media authority and regularly appears on national TV shows, is quoted in popular and digital press, speaks worldwide and has authored four mainstream books.

Contact:          Vonda Wright, MD- Founder & CEO
                      Women's Health Conversations
                      412-789-3052 Email

SOURCE Dr. Vonda Wright