The Women To Women Project invites rural women living with chronic diseases such as rheumatic conditions, multiple sclerosis or heart disease to participate in the third phase of an exciting study which uses computers to deliver social support and health education.

Forty women are randomly assigned to one of two groups of 20 each. One group participates in a computer support group and accesses health information on the World Wide Web (WWW), with periodic input from content experts. One group does not use computers but provides important health related data. All groups participate in a telephone interview and complete three written questionnaires during the six-month (24-week) study.

Participants need to be between the ages of 35-65 and preferably not employed outside the home. They must live in a small town or on a ranch or farm 25 miles outside a town of 12,500 or more in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Nebraska, eastern Washington or eastern Oregon. They must have a telephone in their home or be able to connect to the Internet in another manner. They must also have basic knowledge of and be physically able to use a computer (not necessary to have a computer). They must be willing to participate in all aspects of the project over six months.

Two phases of the WTW project have been completed in the past 10 years, and during that time over 500 rural women participants have been helped to more successfully adapt to long-term illness in the face of limited access to health information and services.

Women who are interested should call toll-free, 1-888-375-1317, at Montana State University, College of Nursing, or email scudney@montana.edu.