Bioidentical hormone therapy: An assessment of provider knowledge.
OBJECTIVE
Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) is available in the United States in formulations that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but also in formulations that have not been so approved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, beliefs, and prescribing practices of BHT among healthcare providers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional self-selected responder survey was conducted of health care providers attending primary care Continuing Medical Education (CME) conferences in the United States from May 2012 to April 2013. The questionnaire consisted of 26 items assessing knowledge, beliefs, and current practice around BHT.


RESULTS
A total of 366 survey responses were analyzed. Though 69.8% of respondents accurately identified the definition of BHT, only 45.3% were aware that BHT is available in FDA-approved products and 34.2% of respondents incorrectly identified that BHT is available only in custom-compounded formulations. Of those who had prescribed CC-BHT, less than half agreed with the statement "I am comfortable prescribing BHT" (45.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that many practitioners are unaware that bioidentical hormones are available in FDA-approved products. Knowledge gaps identified by this survey highlight the need for and importance of education to further dispel misinformation surrounding the topic.
Division of Women's Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, North 92nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA.
Julia A
JA
Files
Division of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of California Los Angeles, 757 Westwood Plaza, Suite 7501, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: LKransdorf@mednet.ucla.edu.
Lisa N
LN
Kransdorf
Division of Women's Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, North 92nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA.
Marcia
M
Ko
Division of Women's Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, North 92nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA.
Juliana M
JM
Kling
Division of Women's Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, North 92nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA.
Paru S
PS
David
Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 1216 2nd Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, USA.
Sandhya
S
Pruthi
Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 1216 2nd Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, USA.
Richa
R
Sood
Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 1216 2nd Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, USA.
Douglas
D
Creedon
Department of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA.
Yu-Hui H
YH
Chang
Division of Women's Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, North 92nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA.
Anita P
AP
Mayer
D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals
Bioidentical; Compounded; Hormone therapy; Menopause