Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Women's unique health communication issues traditionally have been
underrepresented in the health care literature. In fact, until very recently
neither medical research nor national policy has recognized the critical
importance of investigating women's health issues (Office of Research,
1992). As a result, we have a dearth of information about how being
female affects one's health; only recently have any measures been
taken to correct the virtual absence of women subjects in major medical
research programs and trials.