Patient Interest in Pharmacist-Provided Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy consultations

Many women experience unpleasant symptoms as they go through menopause. As they seek ways to help improve their quality of life, they can benefit from consultations with pharmacists that can help them understand and overcome their problems with menopause and hormone replacement therapy. The purpose of this study was to assess patients' experiences with menopause and hormone replacement therapy and to assess their interest in pharmacist-provided consultations. Women who were using medications to treat menopause were recruited by their pharmacists through convenience sampling. A self-administered survey was used to address the study objectives. Of the total number of surveys distributed (n=500), 203 were returned, resulting in a response rate of 41%. Before starting hormone replacement therapy, responsdents reported that they had experienced mood swings, loss of libido, night sweats and hot flashes at least half the time. The most common symptoms experienced after starting hormone replacement therapy were loss of libido and vaginal dryness, which were experienced sometimes up to half the time. Respondents indicated that they used their pharamcists most often as information sources for menopause- and hormone replacement therapy-related issues. Respondents also indicated that they would be very likely to seek help from a pharmacist and that they would pay, on average, $42.07 (standard deviation [SD] =$30.27) per half-hour for consultations, resulting in a 50% improvement in their symptoms, and $65.60 (SD = $26.60 per half-hour for consultations, resulting in a 100% improvement in their symptoms. The results indicate that patients regard pharmacists as their first source for menopause and hormone replacement therapy information and that they would be likely to use, as well as pay for, the services that pharmacists provide. The results of this study may be helpful to pharmacists who are considering providing menopause and hormone replacement therapy counseling services.