Women's needs and wants when seeing the GP in relation to menopausal issues.
OBJECTIVE
To explore women's needs and wants when seeing the GP in relation to menopausal issues.


METHODS
A qualitative interview study.


METHODS
The study was part of a larger project, targeting menopause. It included in-depth interviews of 24 women aged 52-53 years who came from all over Denmark. The women showed a great variety of menopausal experience of symptoms and treatment.


METHODS
An acquaintance with the women's agendas when seeing the GP about menopausal issues.


CONCLUSIONS
Women consulting their GPs either wanted to discuss treatment for menopausal symptoms, to have an examination for diseases or to get a risk assessment. Their needs for medication or examination were satisfied but several women wanted more information, especially about the pros and cons of hormone therapy (HT). Risk assessment, if not requested, indicated problems, with some women feeling uncomfortable if the GPs started a discussion about HT and osteoporosis, if they only wanted an examination to be reassured that everything was normal. The authors' findings indicate that GPs encounter a subtle balance in considering the question of risk information to menopausal women who do not request it.
Hvas
Lotte
L
Central Research Unit and Department of General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute, Denmark. lotte.hvas@dadlnet.dk
Reventlow
Susanne
S
Malterud
Kirsti
K
D003718:Denmark; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008593:Menopause; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016387:Women's Health