How do Japanese gynecologists view hormone replacement therapy for survivors of endometrial cancer? Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group (JGOG) survey.
BACKGROUND
This survey sought to determine Japanese gynecologists' attitudes concerning administering hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for patients after surgery for endometrial cancer (EC).


METHODS
Eight hundred and eighty-eight members of the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group (JGOG) were asked to respond to an anonymous questionnaire on the JGOG website. The survey asked whether or not HRT was to be administered when surgery was performed (including a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy) to treat EC before or after menopause. If HRT was not to be administered, respondents were asked the reason why. Respondents were presented with the same hypothetical patients that were featured in a previous survey in Germany, and differences in the mindsets of Japanese and German physicians were compared.


RESULTS
Responses from 363 individuals (response rate 40.9 %) were analyzed. Seventy-eight percent of physicians considered HRT for patients undergoing surgery before menopause. The most prevalent reason of refusal to prescribe HRT was the risk of EC recurrence. Forty-eight percent of physicians considered HRT for patients undergoing surgery after menopause. The most prevalent reasons of refusal of HRT were its limited benefit and the availability of alternative therapies. Sixty-five percent of Japanese physicians responded that they would administer HRT to patients with low risk of recurrence vs. 46 % of physicians in Germany (P < 0.0002). Forty-nine percent of Japanese physicians approved of prescribing HRT for patients with high risk of recurrence vs. 25 % of physicians in Germany (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Many Japanese gynecologists have a favorable attitude toward prescribing HRT after treatment of EC.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
Yoshihito
Y
Yokoyama
Department of Disaster Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8573, Japan. kito@med.tohoku.ac.jp.
Kiyoshi
K
Ito
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa General Hospital, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan.
Kiyoshi
K
Takamatsu
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Hospital Organization, Shikoku Cancer Center, Matsuyama, Japan.
Kazuhiro
K
Takehara
Department of Gynecology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
Toru
T
Nakanishi
Department of Medical Oncology, Nippon Medical School Musashikosugi Hospital, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
Kenichi
K
Harano
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Hidemichi
H
Watari
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Nobuyuki
N
Susumu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Daisuke
D
Aoki
Gynecology Service, National Hospital Organization, Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.
Toshiaki
T
Saito
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D017741:Survivors
Anonymous questionnaire; Endometrial cancer; Hormone replacement therapy; Japanese gynecologists attitude