PRIOR PILOT PROJECTS ~ Rebecca Thurston, Measurement of Hot Flashes across Ethnic Groups

The hot flash is a sensation ranging from warmth to intense heat around the face, head,
and neck. Populations experiencing hot flashes include male and female cancer patients,
and most notably, women transitioning through the menopause. Hot flashes are associated
with impairments in quality of life and increased treatment seeking, and include contributions
of both psychological and physiological factors in their experience and reporting. Pronounced
ethnic differences in menopausal hot flashes have been noted. Hot flashes are more likely
among African American and less likely among Asian American relative to Caucasian women.
However, whether differences reflect ethnic variations in the occurrence of or the reporting of
hot flashes is unknown, due in part on the sole reliance upon self-report hot flash instruments
in this research. Sternal skin conductance has been shown to be the most sensitive and
specific physiologic measure of hot flashes. However, it has been validated almost
exclusively in Caucasian women.

The primary aim of this study is to examine the sensitivity and specificity of sternal skin
conductance as a measure of hot flashes across African American, Asian American, and
Caucasian women. Secondary aims, examined in an exploratory fashion, include evaluating
the sensitivity and specificity of criterion changes in sternal skin conductance, skin conductance
sampled from alternate body sites, and skin conductance in combination with other physiologic
indices, such as heart rate and skin temperature, to quantify hot flashes across ethnic groups.
Twenty one naturally peri and postmenopausal women across three ethnic groups (African
American, Asian American, and Caucasian), between ages 40 and 60, and experiencing at
least four hot flashes daily will be recruited. They will undergo laboratory hot flash provocation
tasks with simultaneous measurement of skin conductance, skin temperature, and heart rate.
Participants will also undergo one 24-hour period of ambulatory skin conductance and skin
temperature monitoring and electronic behavioral diary. The sensitivity and specificity of
sternal skin conductance alone, sampled from alternate body sites, and in combination with
other physiologic indices in quantifying hot flashes will be calculated.

This project is aimed at further developing a valid device for the measurement of this
psychobiological phenomenon of hot flashes among diverse populations of women.
This research will serve as preliminary data for an NIH career development award proposal
focusing on the relative contribution of psychological and biological factors producing ethnic
differences in hot flashes among American women. Hot flashes are experienced by most
American women and are associated with impairments in quality of life. A valid tool for the
measurement of hot flashes across ethnic groups can facilitate improved understanding of
the etiology of hot flashes as well as effective approaches to their treatment. (PDF VERSION)

Pilot Projects Overview.Current Pilot Projects.Prior Pilot Projects

11/5/2005 LA / tc