The editors and authors wish to acknowledge the valuable contributions of the following persons to the Women's Health and Aging Study and the preparation of this book:
Dr. Samuel Korper was the Acting Associate Director of the Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry Program when this study was in its formative stages. He played a major role in its initial planning and helped bring it to life. Paulette Campbell has made numerous important contributions to the administration of the study and oversaw the production of this book. Armilda Quispe worked long hours in the final preparation of the tables. Paula Williams provided support for all aspects of the project. Steve Filano prepared the text for publication and converted it to HTML for World Wide Web use. John Sorkin provided valuable assistance in desktop publishing.
Dr. Kathy J. Helzlsouer of the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Dr. William W. Scott, Jr., of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Dr. Susan J. Herdman, now of the University of Miami, made key scientific contributions to the study. Invaluable research assistance was provided by Elizabeth L. Solak. Management of the complex data base and programming support for this monograph and for ongoing analyses were performed by Dr. Elsbeth Chee, Jack A. Dagg, and Bryan D. Sayer. Critical administrative support for the day-to-day operations of the WHAS was ably provided by Angela M. Hill and Ray P. Burchfield.
James Pennington, Senior Systems Manager, managed the development of the computerized (CAPI) versions of the questionnaires for baseline and followup and developed and managed the Westat data base. Susan K. Rogers, Research Nurse, worked with NIA and JHU staff to develop the home examination, wrote the manual and developed the training and quality control procedures for the home examination, and trained and supervised the study nurses. Christina Harrison, Field Director, assisted in the development of the questionnaire and interviewer manual for the baseline and assisted in interviewer training for the baseline. She managed the modification of the baseline questionnaire and training materials for the followup questionnaires and conducted followup training of interviewers. Susan Eddy and Giannella DeRienzo, Field Office Managers, were the office managers of the field office in Baltimore. They hired and supervised interviewers, developed office procedures and supervised the office staff. Jacqueline Slattery, Data Manager, managed the development and modification of specifications for the computerized (CAPI) version of the questionnaires for baseline and followup and managed the data preparation for the CAPI data and trained interviewers. Jacqueline Curtin, Data Preparation Supervisor, supervised the cleaning of the CAPI data. Glenn Harke, Data Preparation Manager, managed the development of coding manuals and procedures and the coding and cleaning of all hard copy data including the nurse's examination and the interviewer administered physical assessment data.