| Learning Objective #1: Compare and contrast women's physical and psychosocials health in isolated settings on earth and in outer space | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Suggest ways to strengthen women's health in isolated settings, with particular emphasis on nursing's contributions |
Objective: To compare and contrast women's physical and psychosocial health in isolated settings on earth and in outer space
Design: Compare and contrast information from my feminist grounded theory study of women in isolated northern environments on earth with information from the literature about health issues of women in outer space.
Population, Sample, Settings, Years: 25 women who had lived a minimum of two years in northern British Columbia (BC), Canada, and who were 20 years of age or older.
Concepts or Variables Studied Together: 1) Health issues and strengths of women who live in isolated settings on earth and in outer space, and 2) Effects of isolated environments on women's health and on their abilities to maintain their health. These concepts have not been studied in a clear or comprehensive manner.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews with the women in the sample, direct observation of women's contexts and environments in northern BC, and a critical review of literature relevant to women's health in isolated settings on earth and in outer space.
Findings: Women in isolated settings on earth and in outer space share similar as well as diverse physical and psychosocial health concerns. Issues related to gender attitudes, confinement in hostile and sometimes deadly environments, and lack of access to technology result in many similar health concerns for these women. I will suggest ways to strengthen women's health in isolated environments.
Conclusion: Building women's health research partnerships on earth and in outer space will advance knowledge important to the health of women in diverse isolated environments.
Implications: Implications for health care practice and health-related policy, health practitioner education, and women's health research relevant to isolated environments will be discussed, with particular emphasis on nursing's contributions.
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