study of women's knowledge and attitude towards use of hormone replacement therapy

ABSTRACT

Hormone replacement therapy has been used successfully to treat menopausal symptoms. There is also evidence that its use could treat other more serious conditions associated with the menopause. For example, osteoporosis is an important health problem in older women resulting in substantial social and economic costs. HRT may also decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and there is an association between HRT and the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and enhanced cognitive performance. To describe women's knowledge and attitude towards HRT, estimate the percentage of users, past users and never users within the sample and to identify women's knowledge of osteoporosis. Cross sectional study conducted among 330 women 40- 69 years of age. working in Ain Shams University, Cairo. Egypt. A self-administered questionnaire investigated women's knowledge, use and attitude towards HRT and osteoporosis. A 91.7% response rate was achieved. 10.3% of post-menopausal women were ever takers of HRT. Overall, 6.1% of post-menopausal women were current takers of HRT, 4.2% were previous takers and 85.5% had never taken it. Ever use of HRT was more pronounced in the more educated women compared with the less educated. Attitudes towards the menopause remained positive, although knowledge of the effects of HRT and risk factors for osteoporosis had low level. All current users and the majority of never users would be persuaded to take HRT on a doctor's recommendation and if it would require annual check ups. While all postmenopausal women who had never taken HRT and most of pre-menopausal women recognized that oestrogen may help preventing osteoporosis, yet, only minority of postmenopausal women recognized that smoking, family history and underweight increase the risk of osteoporosis. This study reveals low awareness of menopausal information and HRT as a therapeutic option. It also identified deficiencies in knowledge about osteoporosis .A targeted education program may substantially fill this void. Health authorities and physicians should be involved in patient education efforts in order to improve knowledge as well as maintain the quality and reliability of information provided regarding menopause, HRT and osteoporosis