title: Personal and professional use of menopausal hormone therapy among gynecologists: A multinational study (REDLINC VII).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previously, the REDLINC VI study showed that the main reason for the low use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) was its low rate of prescription by doctors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the use of MHT and perceived related risks among gynecologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered and anonymous questionnaire was delivered to certified gynecologists in 11 Latin American countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2154 gynecologists were contacted, of whom 85.3% responded to the survey (n = 1837). Mean age was 48.1 ± 11.4 years; 55.5% were male, 20.3% were faculty members and 85% had a partner. Overall, 85.4% of gynecologists responded that they would use MHT if they had menopausal symptoms (81.8% in the case of female gynecologists) or prescribe it to their partner (88.2% in the case of male gynecologists; p < 0.001). Perceived risk related to MHT use (on a scale from 0 to 10) was higher among female than among male gynecologists (4.06 ± 2.09 vs. 3.83 ± 2.11, p < 0.02). The top two perceived reported risks were thromboembolism (women 33.6% vs. men 41.4%, p < 0.009) and breast cancer (women 38.5% vs. men 33.9%, p < 0.03). Overall, gynecologists reported prescribing MHT to 48.9% of their symptomatic patients (women 47.3% vs. men 50.2%, p < 0.03) and 86.8% currently prescribed non-hormonal remedies and 83.8% alternative therapies for the management of the menopause. Gynecologists who were older and academic professionals prescribed MHT more often.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this Latin American survey showed that gynecologists are mostly supporters of MHT use (for themselves or their partners), this is not necessarily reflected in their clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Danckers
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Medicina Interna Sur, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Juan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Blümel
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Witis
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: María S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Konstantino
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tserotas
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Onatra
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Desireé
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mostajo
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Flory
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morera
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monterrosa
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montaño
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Nelva
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meruvia
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Mabel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Selva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: María T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Campostrini
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calle
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Broutin
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Ascanio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bencosme
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arteaga
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC), Santiago, Chile; Institute of Biomedicine, Research Area for Women's Health, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Electronic address: juan.blumel@redsalud.gov.cl.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chedraui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Gynecologists; Menopausal hormone therapy; Personal use; Prescribing behavior; Professionals