Graduate Program

Family and Consumer Studies

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2005

Thesis Director

Mikki Meadows

Thesis Committee Member

Kathleen O'Rourke

Thesis Committee Member

Frances Murphy

Abstract

With an increased life expectancy, women are living an average of 30 yearars after the set of menopause. With the change in life, there is a significant change in t onse the production of female hormones which causes unpleasant side effects that includes hot flashes, osteoporosis, nausea, and palpitations. Hormone replacement therapy was promoted to provide relief for women. However, research has shown that HRT may increase the risk of endometrial cancer, strokes and breast cancer. Therefore, women are given contradictory information concerning HRT. The current study explored the attitudes, knowledge and intentions of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women concerning hormone replacement therapy and the relationships of practices to educational vels, patient's rapport with physician, and the physician's dissemination of information.

A survey was distributed to ten perimenopausal and postmenopausal women at a medical facility in Illinois to gather information on the attitudes, knowledge, usage, and rapport with physicians concerning hormone replacement therapy. The survey consisted of four sections: (1) demographic information and general knowledge about HRT, (2) attitudes toward menopause, (3) factors that influence the decision to use HRT, and (4) knowledge about complementary/alternative medicine used to treat menopause.

The data were analyzed using the grounded theory and descriptive statistics. The results of the study showed two themes: (1) the level of education strongly influences physician relationship and strength of conviction concerning menopause as a medical condition and the need to use hormone replacement therapy; (2) Age strongly influences physician relationship and strength of conviction concerning menopause as a medical condition and the need to use hormone replacement therapy. It was determined that the patients relationship to the physician was the strongest common denominator tha affected their attitudes about menopause and the usage of HRT regardless of the education level or age.

Further research must be conducted to determine the affect the physician has on the decisions of their patients and the best way to disseminate the correct information to women concerning menopause and hormone replacement therapy. This study indicates that there are existing complications within the healthcare field when it comes to the dissemination of information, women's relationships with their physician, clear guidelines for safe hormone replacement therapy use, and clear, understandable information that lacks contradictions.

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