Estrogen replacement therapy use in minority postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the use of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), and awareness of relative benefits and risks of ERT in under-served minority postmenopausal women.

DESIGN

Survey.

SETTING

General medical and geriatric clinics of an acute care teaching hospital in south central Los Angeles.

PARTICIPANTS

Convenience sample of 155 postmenopausal women.

MEASUREMENTS

Current and past ERT use, awareness of risks and benefits, reasons for not using ERT.

RESULTS

Of the 143 African-American and Hispanic postmenopausal women, only 16% reported current ERT use. Of the 111 women who have never taken ERT, 86% responded that their physicians have not discussed ERT with them. Fifteen percent of the women were aware of the coronary artery disease (CAD) benefit, and 22% were aware of the osteoporosis benefit. Eighteen percent were aware of the relative risk of endometrial cancer.

CONCLUSION

Over 80% of the under-served postmenopausal women surveyed in our clinics were not receiving ERT, and most were unaware of the benefits and risks of ERT. Lack of physician discussion was cited as the primary reason. Special educational efforts to improve physician counseling practices for ERT in this and similar populations need to be developed.