+ CONTACT US + 312-355-3657 (Chicagoland) 866-678-5748 (Toll Free) [email protected] http://www.uic.edu/nursing/womenstudy/ Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women Study (CHLEW) CHLEW is designed to gather one of the most comprehensive sets of information ever collected about lesbians’ health, their attitudes and beliefs, problems and stresses and relationships with important people in their lives. CHLEW is one of the first studies of lesbian health to be funded by the National Institutes of Health. The first phase of the study was funded shortly after the release of a major report on lesbian health by the Institute of Medicine. This report concluded that additional research is needed to determine if lesbians are at higher risk for some health problems. In 2000-2001, 447 women who were 18-83 years old were interviewed. The second round of interviews took place in 2003-2004 (with a few in 2005). We were able to locate and interview 384 (about 86%) of the women first interviewed in 2000-2001. CHLEW is also the first long-term study of lesbian health. We received additional funding to support a third round of interviews, which began in summer 2010. This will allow us to gather information about changes in lesbians’ lives over ten years and will provide even stronger information about the health of lesbians. We hope to stay in contact with as many of our study participants as possible, regardless of where they currently live. If you are a participant in CHLEW, please send us updates of any changes in your address or phone number. You can reach the study office toll free at (866) 678-5748 or by e-mail at [email protected]. We welcome your feedback and questions.
