title: Determinants of the intention to adopt hormone replacement therapy among premenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the psychosocial factors that influence the intention to adopt hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at menopause.
  
  
  METHODS
  Random Digit Dialing was used to recruit 644 premenopausal non-hysterectomized women aged 45-54. Data were collected using a telephone questionnaire previously developed according to the theory of planned behaviour. Variables measured were: intention to adopt HRT (INT); attitude towards HRT (Aact); perceived social norm (SN); perceived behavioural control (PBC); and personal normative belief (PNB). Socio-demographic data were also obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stepwise multiple regression of INT on the theoretical variables yielded an R(2) of 0.70. The determinants were Aact (beta=0.39, P<0.001), PNB (beta=0.25, P<0.001), PBC (beta=0.23, P<0.001) and SN (beta=0.12, P<0.001). Women with a strong intention to adopt HRT represented 25% of the sample. These women were more likely to believe that adopting HRT would have the following positive consequences: an improvement in general well-being, the prevention of health problems, an improvement in interpersonal relationships, an increase in productivity, the regulation of mood swings and a reduction of hot flashes. They were also more likely to believe in the following negative consequences: side-effects, an increased risk of cancer, the likelihood of weight gain, and interference in the natural course of menopause (all at P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Actions that target behaviourial beliefs regarding HRT and perceived barriers to its adoption are most likely to influence adoption of HRT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, 2400, d'Estimauville, Canada. france.legare@mfa.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Légaré
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Godin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guilbert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laperrière
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dodin
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017697:Premenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health