Are women being counseled about estrogen replacement therapy?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and several medical professional associations have published guidelines recommending that all women be counseled around the time of menopause about the benefits and risks of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) so that they may make an informed decision about its use. Despite the proliferation of ERT counseling guidelines, little is known about whether these guidelines are being followed. There were 1,500 female members (aged 40 to 69) of a Northeastern U.S. Independent Practice Association--model Health Maintenance Organization who were surveyed, and 51 percent reported that a health care provider had talked with them about the benefits and risks of ERT. In multivariate analyses, a woman's demographic characteristics (age, race, income), stage of menopause, severity of menopausal symptoms, and body weight were the major correlates of receipt of ERT counseling. Women at greater risk for osteoporosis or heart disease were no more likely to be counseled, although those with diagnosed osteoporosis were. What appear to be selective ERT counseling practices will need to be modified if the goal of providing universal ERT counseling to midlife women is to be attained.
Gallagher
T C
TC
University of Illinois, USA.
Geling
O
O
FitzGibbons
J
J
Aforismo
J
J
Comite
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F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003237:Connecticut; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000592:standards*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000193:education*