HRT: have we changed?
BACKGROUND
In recent years, medical controversy, has surrounded the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to establish whether prescribing of HRT in Northern Ireland has changed and what the current prescribing patterns are.


METHODS
A structured questionnaire was sent by post to all medical staff in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Northern Ireland. A stamped addressed envelope was included.


RESULTS
Overall 54% of respondents indicated that they had changed their prescribing practice on HRT in the past year. The primary indication for prescribing HRT was vasomotor symptoms (93%). Fifty-six per cent of doctors recommended 1-5 years as duration of use. Oral preparations were those most commonly prescribed (57%). The dose and type chosen were the same whether prescribing had changed or not.


CONCLUSIONS
More than half of all doctors who responded had changed their prescribing practices on HRT, yet some respondents still preferred more traditional prescribing.
Conlon
O
O
Dept of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry. orla.conlon@btinternet.com
McKinney
K
K
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires