Knowledge, perceptions and information about hormone therapy (HT) among menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.

<h4>Background</h4>The use of hormone therapy (HT) by menopausal women has declined since the Women's Health Initiative randomized trial (WHI) in 2002 demonstrated important harms associated with long-term use. However, how this information has influenced women's knowledge and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: MinFang Tao, YinCheng Teng, HongFang Shao, Ping Wu, Edward J Mills
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0024661&type=printable
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849419154032951296
author MinFang Tao
YinCheng Teng
HongFang Shao
Ping Wu
Edward J Mills
author_facet MinFang Tao
YinCheng Teng
HongFang Shao
Ping Wu
Edward J Mills
author_sort MinFang Tao
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>The use of hormone therapy (HT) by menopausal women has declined since the Women's Health Initiative randomized trial (WHI) in 2002 demonstrated important harms associated with long-term use. However, how this information has influenced women's knowledge and attitudes is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions towards HT use, as well as specific concerns and information sources on HT since the WHI trial.<h4>Method/results</h4>We did a systematic review to assess the attitudes and knowledge towards HT in women, and estimate the magnitude of the issue by pooling across the studies. Using meta-synthesis methods, we reviewed qualitative studies and surveys and performed content analysis on the study reports. We pooled quantitative studies using a random-effects meta-analysis. We analyzed 11 qualitative studies (n = 566) and 27 quantitative studies (n = 39251). Positive views on HT included climacteric symptom control, prevention of osteoporosis and a perceived improvement in quality of life. Negative factors reported included concerns about potential harmful effects, particularly cancer risks. Sources of information included health providers, media, and social contact. By applying a meta-synthesis approach we demonstrate that these findings are broadly applicable across large groups of patients.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Although there are clear hazards associated with long-term HT use, many women view HT favorably for climacteric symptom relief. Media, as a source of information, is often valued as equivalent to health providers.
format Article
id doaj-art-fe2a1b5e52cd446b875d0fbf8e32024b
institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-fe2a1b5e52cd446b875d0fbf8e32024b2025-08-20T03:32:12ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-0169e2466110.1371/journal.pone.0024661Knowledge, perceptions and information about hormone therapy (HT) among menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.MinFang TaoYinCheng TengHongFang ShaoPing WuEdward J Mills<h4>Background</h4>The use of hormone therapy (HT) by menopausal women has declined since the Women's Health Initiative randomized trial (WHI) in 2002 demonstrated important harms associated with long-term use. However, how this information has influenced women's knowledge and attitudes is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions towards HT use, as well as specific concerns and information sources on HT since the WHI trial.<h4>Method/results</h4>We did a systematic review to assess the attitudes and knowledge towards HT in women, and estimate the magnitude of the issue by pooling across the studies. Using meta-synthesis methods, we reviewed qualitative studies and surveys and performed content analysis on the study reports. We pooled quantitative studies using a random-effects meta-analysis. We analyzed 11 qualitative studies (n = 566) and 27 quantitative studies (n = 39251). Positive views on HT included climacteric symptom control, prevention of osteoporosis and a perceived improvement in quality of life. Negative factors reported included concerns about potential harmful effects, particularly cancer risks. Sources of information included health providers, media, and social contact. By applying a meta-synthesis approach we demonstrate that these findings are broadly applicable across large groups of patients.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Although there are clear hazards associated with long-term HT use, many women view HT favorably for climacteric symptom relief. Media, as a source of information, is often valued as equivalent to health providers.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0024661&type=printable
spellingShingle MinFang Tao
YinCheng Teng
HongFang Shao
Ping Wu
Edward J Mills
Knowledge, perceptions and information about hormone therapy (HT) among menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.
PLoS ONE
title Knowledge, perceptions and information about hormone therapy (HT) among menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.
title_full Knowledge, perceptions and information about hormone therapy (HT) among menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.
title_fullStr Knowledge, perceptions and information about hormone therapy (HT) among menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, perceptions and information about hormone therapy (HT) among menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.
title_short Knowledge, perceptions and information about hormone therapy (HT) among menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.
title_sort knowledge perceptions and information about hormone therapy ht among menopausal women a systematic review and meta synthesis
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0024661&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT minfangtao knowledgeperceptionsandinformationabouthormonetherapyhtamongmenopausalwomenasystematicreviewandmetasynthesis
AT yinchengteng knowledgeperceptionsandinformationabouthormonetherapyhtamongmenopausalwomenasystematicreviewandmetasynthesis
AT hongfangshao knowledgeperceptionsandinformationabouthormonetherapyhtamongmenopausalwomenasystematicreviewandmetasynthesis
AT pingwu knowledgeperceptionsandinformationabouthormonetherapyhtamongmenopausalwomenasystematicreviewandmetasynthesis
AT edwardjmills knowledgeperceptionsandinformationabouthormonetherapyhtamongmenopausalwomenasystematicreviewandmetasynthesis