Risk of coronary heart disease, dietary fat modification, stages of change, and self-efficacy in surgically and naturally postmenopausal women.

This nonexperimental two-by-two study was designed to determine whether a difference existed between postmenopausal women who underwent surgical menopause and those who experienced natural menopause and between those who were and those who were not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on four dependent variables. Bandura's self-efficacy theory and Prochaska and DiClemente's transtheoretical model of change provided the framework. Subjects (n = 77) were recruited from one physician's practice at a metropolitan multi-specialty outpatient clinic. Instruments were the Demographic Data Form, Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Table, Food Habits Questionnaire, Stage of Change to Dietary Fat Reduction, and Self-Efficacy for Health-Related Diet Behaviors. The independent variables, type of menopause and hormone status, had two levels. The dependent variables were coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, dietary fat modification, stages of change, and self-efficacy. Two-way ANOVA were used to determine differences between the two independent variables on the dependent variables. Findings indicated that women who experienced natural menopause and were not on HRT were at greater risk for CHD than women who underwent surgical menopause, the majority of whom were on HRT. Those women with natural menopause had a greater risk of developing CHD over time than their counterparts. Significant findings indicated that women who experience natural menopause should receive education on the risks and benefits of HRT. Hopefully, this education will enhance their ability to make their choice wisely.