Women's decisions about whether or not to take hormone replacement therapy: influence of social and medical factors.

BACKGROUND

General practitioners have been described as reluctant to prescribe hormone replacement therapy although its use is widely discussed and advocated in the popular media.

AIM

This study set out to identify women's perceptions of media coverage of hormone replacement therapy; the people influencing women's decisions about therapy and women's sources of information; their general practitioners' attitudes to therapy; and women's experiences of the primary health care team in relation to hormone replacement therapy.

METHOD

In 1993, a postal questionnaire survey was undertaken of 1649 women aged between 20 and 69 years registered with eight general practices in Stockton-on-Tees.

RESULTS

A total of 1225 women (74%) returned questionnaires. Women considered that the media portrayed mainly positive images of hormone replacement therapy. A substantial minority of women found the media information unhelpful (30%) or felt that it was incorrect (17%). General practitioners and practice nurses were most frequently considered to be the most important people in helping women decide about taking therapy, but relatives and friends were also important; 41% of women named no one. The media, friends and relatives were most commonly cited as the main sources of information about therapy. Of the women who had discussed hormone replacement therapy with their general practitioner, 65% felt that their general practitioner was in favour of its use for relieving menopausal symptoms. Two thirds of women felt they had had enough time and information when discussing hormone replacement therapy with their general practitioner and/or practice nurse.

CONCLUSION

Women did not seem to perceive any resistance from their general practitioner to the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy. Although women gathered information about therapy from sources other than their doctor, doctors have an important role, as providers of the therapy, in listening to women and helping them to make their own decision about whether or not to take hormone replacement therapy.