title: Age differences in attitudes toward menopause and estrogen replacement therapy.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to develop and test attitude scales for menopause and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) using 116 college-aged and 136 mid-aged women. Factor scores indicate that mid-aged women view menopause in a more benign fashion than college-aged women and are more likely to view ERT as positive while recognizing side effects. Restricted variability on ERT attitude items suggests limited knowledge or opinions and a need for education across ages. Women's perceptions of ERT are in terms of a solution for immediate relief of symptoms in contrast to current medical recommendations that emphasize ERT as long-term disease prevention therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Petry
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Talbert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics