Hormone Replacement Therapy Counseling: Prevalence and Predictors

Abstract

Objectives:

To evaluate the prevalence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) counseling and to investigate the relationship between patients' cultural background and healthcare professionals' counseling practices. HRT is the principal preventive intervention for reducing risk of menopause-related pathologic conditions. This study assessed self-reports of HRT counseling among women receiving care in an urban community hospital.

Methods:

A descriptive self-reported survey study of 134 women aged 45-65 was conducted in the medical clinic at an urban community teaching hospital in a multicultural area in New York. Questionnaires asked about age, ethnicity, HRT use, contraindications, health professional counseling, and barriers to HRT counseling. Possible predictors of HRT counseling were analyzed with logistic regression models. Categorical variables were compared with chi-square statistics.

Results:

Overall prevalence of HRT counseling was 25%. Prevalence of HRT use was 19%; among those using HRT, only 12.7% reported receiving HRT counseling. Physicians were more likely to discuss HRT than other healthcare professionals. Over 90% of the patients reported a desire for HRT counseling.

Conclusions:

The low rates of HRT counseling suggest physicians have limited daily experience with HRT counseling practices. Public health efforts should focus on increasing physician and general population awareness to promote HRT counseling strategies and ensure public access to HRT information.