Compliance with hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal Sicilian women.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the compliance with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) over 2 years in a population of postmenopausal women in East Sicily.


METHODS
Patients starting hormonal therapy for the first time were enrolled in this study. A telephone survey was then conducted after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months and the reasons for any discontinuation were recorded.


RESULTS
Of a total of 138 women who agreed to be enrolled in this prospective longitudinal study 72 were still taking the treatment after 1 year and only 56 at the end of the study, although only three patients reported that they had experienced no benefit.


CONCLUSIONS
Type of work, surgical menopause and previous use of oral contraceptives were significantly statistically associated with better HRT compliance. Side effects and fear of breast cancer, which we maintain is exaggerated by the women and their family doctors, were the commonest reasons for early discontinuation of the hormonal treatment.
Corrado
F
F
Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit (Dir. Prof. P. Mastrantonio), Institute of Gynecology Policlinico Universitario, University of Messina, "G. Martino" 98100 Messina, Italy. francesco.corrado@unime.it
D'Anna
R
R
Caputo
F
F
Cannata
M L
ML
Zoccali
M G
MG
Cancellieri
F
F
D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017698:Postmenopause; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012802:Sicily; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol