VCU seeks participants for women's health study

By Lorraine Cichowski and Mary Nettleman

RICHMOND, Va. – Researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center involved in a national project aimed at reducing risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancy are seeking participants for a research study.

Women who participate in the study must be 18-44 years old and drink alcohol. Participants also must have been seen at one of the clinics of the VCU Medical Center within the last three years, been on Medicaid within the last three years or currently be without health insurance.  Participants will receive $175 - $315 in gift certificates for completing the study.

The study is part of Project CHOICES, a joint intervention program developed by the Centers for Disease Control, VCU, Nova Southeastern University and the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center to identify high-risk women before they become pregnant.  The program is aimed at reducing risky drinking and postponing pregnancy until risk drinking is resolved.

For more information, please contact Project CHOICES at 804-828-4456.  The study is under the direction of Dr. Mary Nettleman in the VCU Division of General Internal Medicine/Primary Care at 804-828-5323.