A women's health shop: a practical example of health education and health promotion

A study was carried out in Edinburgh, Scotland, to evaluate the views and beliefs of women about the concept of a women's health shop. A random sample of the female population was interviewed by telephone, with a total of 318 interviews (response rate 80%). Altogether, 39% of women had heard about the previous women's health shop and 27% could correctly identify its location, with 3% of the sample having visited it. An overwhelming majority felt that women's health concerns needed special attention and could be difficult to discuss in a busy health centre. Women expressed a strong belief in informed self-help and a strong sense of the need for a dialogue between provider and client. A women's health shop was held to be a good idea by 93%, and 70% had the behavioural intention of visiting one if it were available. Attitudes and beliefs about women's health were related to age, but not to the occupation, education, or area of the city in which the respondents lived. This study therefore questions the assumption that only middle-class women want more knowledge and are interested in selfhelp. Our study also demonstrates that a telephone interview is a useful method of carrying out such a survey.