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An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
Women's knowledge of hormone therapy
H Coo1, K S O'Connor, D Hunter
1Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Abramsky Hall, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont., Canada K7L 3N6. cooh@post.queensu.ca
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess women's knowledge of hormone therapy. Two hundred and seven women were interviewed by telephone. The median score to 24 questions concerning the benefits, risks and side effects of therapy was 54.2%. Almost three-quarters of women knew that hormone therapy may decrease the risk of osteoporosis, but half were unaware that it should be taken for at least 10 years for maximum protection against bone loss. While many women knew that hormone therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer, 13.5% believed that it would decrease their risk. Many women overestimated the potential reduction in lifetime risk of hip fracture and the potential increase in lifetime risk of breast cancer with hormone therapy. Women may have insufficient knowledge to make informed choices about hormone therapy. This has implications for physicians who wish to ensure that women are able to participate in informed decision-making.
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