Assessment of menopausal symptoms and attitude, and intervention study on knowledge of hormone replacement therapy among peri menopausal women seen at outpatient department (KRK) & Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinic (O&G), HUSM
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Date
2001-11
Authors
Nik Kazim, Nik Harlina Roza
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
This study was designed to examine HRT users' attitudes and knowledge of
menopause and HRT, their menopausal symptoms, comparing that with a
control group (non HRT user) and to examine the effectiveness of counseling
intervention in educating the non HRT user.
In this survey, a self administered questionnaire was completed by 55
patients of HRT users, taken from menopause clinic, HUSM and by 54
patients from outpatient department (OPD), HUSM as a control group (non
HRT user). The study was started simultaneously in both groups in year
2000 from June, 1st to December 31st. The questionnaire consisted of forty
questions which had been used in three surveys in London and Scotland
tested on menopause symptoms, knowledge and attitude. Control patients
were given a similar questionnaire. A counseling intervention was carried out
in the control group (non HRT user), tuning towards menopause and HRT. A similar fifteen questions on the knowledge aspects were tested post
counseling. The knowledge studied were then scored based on Likert scale.
The questions were modified, simplified, translated and new questions are
added in order to suit our local population. All the data were analysed using
Statistical Package For Social Sciences (SPSS).
The results showed no significant difference between the two groups with
respect to age of respondents, ethnicity, marital status, income and medical
status. However there was a significant difference in the level of education
and occupation between the two groups. The menopausal symptoms especially
the classical/vasomotor symptoms are widely experienced in both groups.
The reason why these women do not use HRT are due to several confounding
factors. They are unaware of HRT and were let down by poor level of
education with negative attitudes towards menopause and HRT. Comparing
the basic knowledge of menopause and HRT from both groups, they have
poor basic knowledge (mean score of 7.78 in HRT user and 5.07 in non HRT
user). The mean difference between the HRT user and non HRT user was
significant. There was also a marked difference in the mean knowledge score post-intervention programme in non user group. The mean score pre
intervention is 5.07 as compared to 10.26 post intervention. The difference
of means before and after intervention between the two is again
statistically significant, p <0.05.
In conclusion, the overall knowledge of HRT users and non HRT users were
poor and attitudes towards HRT were more negative among non users. Many
of them are still not aware of the existence of HRT, but even if they do,
misconceptions are still high.
This study showed that intervention by counseling improves the knowledge
of menopause in the non user group, hence leads these women to make
informed decisions to use HRT. Therefore, there was a need for health care
providers to make an effort to inform and offer HRT to these women who
are suffering in silence.
Description
Keywords
Menopause and HRT