Health beliefs and women's use of hormone replacement therapy.

This research, part of an Internet-based study, examined whether beliefs about menopause and the Health Belief Model (HBM) variables explained women's use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Data were collected via a Web site and 208 women, ages 40 to 60, enrolled in the study over an eight-week period. Logistic regression analysis revealed perceived barriers and confidence as significant in predicting which women used HRT. The project was conducted prior to findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). Despite a reduced risk of osteoporotic fractures in women receiving combined HRT, the WHI reports the risks of HRT outweigh the benefits.