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The physician's role in women's decision making about hormone replacement therapy
K M Newton1, A Z Lacroix, S G Leveille
1Center for Health Studies, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA. newton.k@ghc.org
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|October 9, 1998
Summary
Physician discussions are key for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) decisions. Many women feel inadequately informed about HRT risks and benefits, highlighting a need for better patient counseling.
Area of Science:
- Women's Health
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) decisions are complex for women.
- Understanding information sources is crucial for informed choices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary sources of information women utilize when making decisions about hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, population-based telephone survey was conducted.
- 1082 women aged 50-80 years participated.
Main Results:
- Physician discussions were the dominant information source for current (83.4%) and past (65.5%) HRT users.
- 44.5% of women used printed materials; many felt inadequately informed about HRT benefits (33.6% of never users).
Conclusions:
- Women's HRT use is closely linked to physician interactions.
- Improved counseling on HRT risks and benefits is needed for all perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.