SOCIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL-CHARACTERISTICS OF PERIMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH AN EXPRESS ATTITUDE TO HORMONE SUBSTITUTION THERAPY

Objectives: The objective of the study is to demonstrate differences i n behaviour and in sociological characteristics between women wanting hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and women refusing such treatment. M ethods: From a study base of 6189 women, 413 perimenopausal women with an express positive or negative attitude towards the use of HRT were interviewed on sociological and behavioural characteristics. Checks ag ainst bias were performed by analysis of reluctant participants, ident ified as women who either did not agree to participate until they rece ived at least one reminder, or who dropped out immediately after the i nterview. Results: Women wanting HRT had higher levels of education, w ere less often childless, and were more frequent solarium users than w omen refusing this treatment. There were no differences in marital sta tus, employment status, the average tea, coffee, wine and cigarette co nsumption, sun exposure, frequencies of travels abroad, or number of f amily cars, summer houses or boats. No difference in present smoking s tatus was demonstrated but the estrogen users were more frequently pas t or present smokers. Conclusions: It is suggested that lack of knowle dge of HRT may sometimes be the cause of rejecting it, or may influenc e on the compliance regarding its use. Familiarity with the use of the health system for other reasons than disease may promote the use of H RT. It is demonstrated that the observed patterns do not originate fro m self-selection bias.