Treatment provision and management for the menopause: a multinational survey study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology
• Women's Health
• Healthcare Disparities

Background:

• Despite available hormonal and non-hormonal interventions, many women with troublesome menopausal symptoms do not receive evidence-based therapy.
• Significant international disparities exist in the provision of effective menopause care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate self-reported menopausal care experiences among women in five English-speaking countries.
• To identify international differences in healthcare access, treatment provision, and patient involvement in menopause management.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was administered to 3,062 respondents from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• The survey collected data on sociodemographic characteristics and treatment experiences, including healthcare professional consultations, treatment acquisition, patient involvement in discussions, treatment review, side effect tolerability, and overall satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Significant international differences were observed in healthcare access and prescribing patterns.
• Women in the UK and US consulted healthcare professionals more frequently than those in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
• Prescription rates were higher in New Zealand, the UK, and the US compared to Australia and Canada, yet UK respondents reported less involvement in discussions, poorer treatment review, lower side effect tolerability, and reduced satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Critical gaps in menopause care, including disparities in treatment access and patient involvement, were identified.
• Increased healthcare access in the UK and US did not correlate with higher patient satisfaction, emphasizing the need for patient-centered care.
• Improving menopause care necessitates enhanced clinician education and strategies promoting communication and shared decision-making.