Frontier Nursing Service Medical Surveys
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Frontier Nursing Service Medical Surveys
- Date
- 1959-1971
- Extent
- 25.89 Cubic feet
- Subjects
- Breast--Cancer--Research
- Family planning
- Health behavior--Appalachian Region--Statistics
- Health surveys
- Oral contraceptives--Research
- Arrangement
- Organized in four series by type of survey. Within each series, arranged alphabetically by patient last name or by survey/study number.
- Preferred Citation
- 96M8: [Identification of Item], Frontier Nursing Service Medical Surveys, 1959-1971, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Founded by Mary Breckinridge in 1925, the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) still provides healthcare services and midwifery training in rural areas primarily in eastern Kentucky. Originally known as the Kentucky Committee for Mothers and Babies, the FNS runs six clinics, including the Mary Breckinridge Hospital, the Mary Breckinridge Home Health Agency, the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing and the Bed and Breakfast Inn at Wendover, Kentucky.
- A member of a distinguished Kentucky family, Breckinridge began her nursing career in 1907, following the loss of her first husband. The death of her two small children, Polly and Breckie, during a second marriage had a profound and lasting influence. Breckie's death in 1918, particularly, motivated her toward the care of young children. As a spokeswoman for the Children's Bureau in 1918, Breckinridge traveled throughout the United States gathering information and speaking on the welfare of children. Following the First World War she affiliated with the American Committee for Devastated France, whose mission was to aid the French people in recovering from the horrors of war. Working alongside British nurse-midwives and French midwives, Breckinridge realized the worth of combining the two professions -- nursing and midwifery.
- After her return to the United States, Breckinridge spent the next years formulating a plan for her life's work. She continued her education at Teacher's College, Columbia University, taking courses in public health nursing. Breckinridge then spent the summer of 1923 investigating the conditions of midwifery in three Kentucky counties: Leslie, Knott, and Owsley. Returning to Europe, she studied midwifery at the British Hospital for Mothers and Babies and then traveled to the Scottish Highlands to observe the operation of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service.
- Having observed the success of nurse-midwives in France, England and Scotland, Breckinridge pioneered the concept in the United States. The Frontier Nursing Service held its initial meeting on May 28, 1925, at the Capitol Hotel in Frankfort, Kentucky. Executive officers, articles of incorporation, by-laws, and a quarterly publication provided the group with the standard trappings of a viable organization. Breckinridge dedicated her time and efforts to establishing her organization with the local residents as well as developing a national network of loyal friends -- members of the city committees -- who remained supporters through the years.
- Scope and Content
- The Frontier Nursing Service Medical Surveys (dated 1959-1971; 25.89 cubic feet, 59 boxes) contains the records from four medical surveys conducted by the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) between 1959 and 1971. The surveys, concerning birth control, family planning methods, and breast cancer in relation to breast feeding, produced over 2500 medical records. The Birth Control Studies, Family Planning Study, and Study on the Use and Results of Oral and Intrauterine Contraception took place in Leslie, Clay and Perry Counties, Kentucky. The Survey of Cancer of the Breast included patients from those Kentucky counties, but also records from out migrants who had moved from the area. The American Cancer Society established the Breast Cancer Survey, while Dr. John Rock of Boston, MA, conducted the Birth Control Study.
- The Birth Control Records comprise 156 records from October 1959 to March 1968 on the efficacy and possible side effects of Enovid, an oral contraceptive. The Enovid record forms were provided by G.D. Searle & Co., the Chicago pharmaceutical company that produced Enovid. The principal research investigator for the FNS was Dr. John Rock, who conducted birth control studies in a variety of geographical locations in addition to the FNS studies. The contents of each file are organized in this order: a chart summarizing the data collected from each woman, including the prescribed monthly does of Enovid; patient’s general history; monthly menstrual history; Enovid record forms (Boxes 1-3 only); and memos with diagnoses, if any.
- The Family Planning Study consists of 137 records and was administered in December 1971, largely in the Kentucky counties of Leslie, Clay and Perry. The study included both male and female respondents and centered on FNS-sponsored family planning methods and procedures dating from late 1963. This study shows how birth control preferences changed over time.
- The Study on the Use and Results of Oral and Intrauterine Contraception consists of 592 records and was administered to women whose most recent delivery was between 1960 and 1965. It gauged the client’s previous IUD and oral contraceptive history, duration of contraceptive usage and its success. Statistics from this survey, complied by FNS, are in Box 31, Folder 38.
- The American Cancer Society Survey of Breast Cancer Series includes approximately 1690 records from June 1961 to November 1967. The American Cancer Society (ACS) was investigating the hypothesis that mothers who breast fed their infants had a markedly lower occurrence of breast cancer. The voluntary survey was conducted through a questionnaire administered by mail. All files include a standardized data sheet provided by the ACS. The original questionnaire with client responses and comments is included when available. It should be noted that a high number of respondents had moved since their last contact with FNS, especially to southern Ohio and Indiana.
- The numbering of breast cancer surveys is based on a system of 1000 based on geographical area. 1000s numbers are for Wendover district; 2000s are for Hyden, Hyden Hospital, and Wooten; 3000s are for Beech Fork; 4000s are for Brutus; 5000s are for Red Bird; 6000s are for Atwood or Flat Creek; 7000s are for Possum Bend; 8000s are for Bowlingtown. The project was originally divided into 2 groups. One group had their first child before 6/9/45. The other group had their first child after 6/9/45. All cases with their first child after 6/9/1945 will have a 2- preceding the case number. Cases with a 4- preceding the case number have moved outside of the territory. These records include many of the interviews that constitute Series I and II. More Interview schedules from Series II are located in a related collection: Frontier Nursing Service (2005MS47), Boxes 280-286.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is restricted until 2038: The identification of any names of patients or their place of residence in any manner is prohibited and no part of the collection may be photocopied, microfilmed, digitized, or reproduced in any manner. Researchers must fill in and sign an access request form before use of the collection. Contact the Special Collections Research Services desk for further information and to obtain a copy of the form.
- Use Restrictions
- Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Special Collections.
Contents of the Collection
Enovid Birth Control Study, 1959 October- 1968 March
Scope and Contents note
These records appear to be a study on the efficacy and possible side effects of Enovid, an oral contraceptive. All 156 individual birth control records are listed in alphabetical order by the subject’s last name and range chronologically from October 1959 to March 1968. The contents of each file is organized in this order: a chart summarizing the data collected from each woman, including the prescribed monthly dose of Enovid; patient’s general history; monthly menstrual history; Enovid record forms (Boxes 1-3 only); and memos with diagnoses, if any. The Enovid record forms were provided by G.D. Searle & Co., the Chicago pharmaceutical company that poduced Enovid. The principal research investigator for the FNS was Dr. John Rock.
AS-BL
BO-COL
COM-EN
F-HOR
HOS-MA
MC-MU
N-OS
P-RO
SH-V
W-Z
Infertility and Gyn.
Close outs; No Rx; No data
Family Planning Study, 1971 December
Scope and Contents note
The Frontier Nursing Service’s Family Planning Study was administered in December 1971, largely in the Kentucky counties of Leslie, Clay and Perry. The study has both male and female respondents and centers on FNS-sponsored family planning methods and procedures dating back to 1963. What is striking about the results is the move from reversible means of birth control (most often birth control pills and/or IUDs) to sterilization. Records for 1971 alone show 69 tubal ligations and 26 vasectomies performed that year. In addition to this move toward sterilization, records for 1970 to 1971 show FNS clients far less likely to engage in long-term family planning compared to clients in the mid to late 1960s, opting instead to be sterilized (See boxes 3-4 for examples). Whether this reflects a change in FNS philosophy or simply the wishes of the client base is unknown. What is evident is that those seeking family planning advice in 1970 and 1971 exercised fewer options than earlier clients.
66-0034
66-0092
66-0238
66-0279
66-0406
66-0490
66-0509
66-0527
66-0568
66-0595
66-0597
66-0686
66-0718
66-0839
66-0843
66-0844
66-0941
66-1030
66-1128
66-1147
66-1350
66-1617
66-1672
66-1837
66-1854
66-1937
66-1940
66-2150
66-2154
66-2156
66-2168
66-2308
66-2493
66-2708
66-2731
66-2752
66-2821
66-3318
66-3339
66-3379
66-3640
66-3747
66-3769
66-3776
66-3905
66-4002
67-0086
67-0248
67-0413
67-0456
67-0481
67-0530
67-0643
67-0661
67-0803
67-0955
67-1045
67-1395
67-1448
67-1606
67-1858
67-1881
67-2196
67-2257
67-2270
67-2405
67-2485
67-2595
67-2699
67-2718
67-2743
67-2939
67-2951
67-3072
67-3147
67-3166
67-3809
67-4250
67-4507
67-4751
68-0045
68-0108
68-0330
68-0368
68-0420
68-0493
68-0523
68-0766
68-1703
68-1855
68-1856
68-2406
68-2564
68-2781
68-2837
68-3138
68-3435
68-3511
68-3639
68-4841
69-0182
69-0625
69-0914
69-1488
69-3170
70-0119
70-0559
70-0703
70-0744
70-0777
70-0834
70-1076
70-1150
70-1232
70-1595
70-1717
70-1773
71-0033
71-0051
71-0068
71-0090
71-0092
71-0173
71-0187
71-0376
71-0538
71-0747
71-0838
71-0848
71-0862
71-1106
71-1265
71-1382
71-1406
71-1500
71-1559
71-1737
Study on the Use and Results of Oral and Intrauterine Contraception, 1960-1965
Scope and Contents note
This study was administered to women whose most recent delivery was between 1960 and 1965. It gauges the client’s previous contraceptive history, duration of contraceptive usage and its success. An overwhelming majority of respondents used only an IUD; only about one out of every thirty respondents solely used an oral contraceptive. Statistics from this survey, complied by FNS, are in box 31, Folder 38.
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Statistics Compiled From Study
American Cancer Society Survey of Breast Cancer in the Frontier Nursing Service Area of Eastern Kentucky, 1961-1967
Scope and Contents note
This FNS survey of breast cancer was initiated June 1961, at the request of the American Cancer Society (ACS), and continued until November 1967. The ACS was investigating the hypothesis that mothers who breast fed their infants had a markedly lower occurrence of breast cancer. The voluntary survey was conducted through a questionnaire administered by mail. Nurse Anna May January of the Wendover outpost attempted to contact the first 1000 women whose babies were delivered by the FNS to document any occurrence of breast cancer in the patient or within her family. This data was presumably forwarded to the Kentucky Division of the ACS. Because this survey was taken, in some cases forty years after a delivery, many responses are vague or uncertain (especially in cases where the client died and a next-of-kin answered the survey). All files include a standardized data sheet provided by the ACS. The original questionnaire with client responses and comments is included when available. It should be noted that a high number of respondents had moved since their last contact with FNS, especially to southern Ohio and Indiana.
The numbering of cases is based on a system of 1000 based on geographical area. 1000s numbers are for Wendover district; 2000s are for Hyden, Hyden Hospital, and Wooten; 3000s are for Beech Fork; 4000s are for Brutus; 5000s are for Red Bird; 6000s are for Atwood or Flat Creek; 7000s are for Possum Bend; 8000s are for Bowlingtown.
The project was originally divided into 2 groups. One group had their first child before 6/9/45. The other group had their first child after 6/9/45. All cases with their first child after 6/9/1945 will have a 2- preceding the case number. Cases with a 4- preceding the case number have moved outside of the territory.
More of these records can be found in (2005MS47) Boxes 280-286.