title: Complementary/alternative and conventional medicine use amongst menopausal women: results from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.
abstract: Large population-based studies of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional medicine use amongst menopausal women are lacking. This study helps address this gap by analysing data from a nationally representative sample of 10011 Australian women aged 59-64 years. Overall, 39% of menopausal women consulted CAM practitioners, 75% used self-prescribed CAM, 95% consulted general practitioners (GP) and 50% consulted specialists during the previous year, and 12% were current hormone replacement therapy (HRT) users. Our findings suggest that CAM is a significant healthcare option utilized by women to treat menopausal symptoms, and so requires attention from GPs and specialists.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hickman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: David.Sibbritt@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Sibbritt
mesh_terms: D019341:Aromatherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001315:Australia; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D019122:Meditation; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016387:Women's Health; D015013:Yoga
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014815:Vitamins
keywords: Complementary and alternative medicine; Hormone replacement therapy; Hysterectomy; Menopause; Oophorectomy; Surgical menopause