What factors are associated with a woman's decision to take hormone replacement therapy? Evaluated in the context of a decision aid.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To understand the factors associated with a post-menopausal woman deciding to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after reviewing a decision aid (DA) and having a counselling visit with her physician as well as the factors associated with the act of taking HRT 2 months after the counselling interview. DESIGN: A secondary analysis of data collected for a randomized controlled trial evaluating two DAs. MAIN OUTCOME RESULTS: Although 28% of women were uncertain regarding their decision after the counselling interview, only 2.4% of women, at the assessment at 2 months, had not made a decision. The most significant factor associated with the decision to take HRT, after the physician visit, was the physician preference (OR 62, 95% CI 13.3, 289.7). Physician preference (OR 78, 95% CI 6.2, 975) remained the most significant factor for taking HRT 2 months after the counselling interview followed by low uncertainty about the decision (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2, 0.7). CONCLUSION: Physician preference was the factor that was most associated with the woman's decision following counselling and 2 months later. Qualitative evaluation of the interview process involving the patient and physician would determine whether the patient and physician are reaching a shared decision or is the physician preference influencing the patient.