DECIDING ABOUT HORMONE-THERAPY - VALIDATION OF A MODEL

Objective: The purposes of this study were to (1) validate components of a decision process regarding adoption of hormone therapy and (2) co mpare the decision processes women used with respect to their evaluati on of decision quality. Design: A sample of women participating in a p opulation-based study of midlife women's health participated in indivi dual in-depth interviews. Results: Content analysis of 30 recorded int erviews provided evidence that each component of the decision process (precontemplation, contemplation, commitment, critical evaluation, and continuance) was replicated. Few additional codes were identified, an d these could be subsumed under the phases of the original decision mo del. Conclusions: Women's self-reported statuses on a screening questi onnaire corresponded to the stages of the decision model coded from th eir interviews. What women actually decided to do (use hormone therapy or something else) was not associated with their decision process. Sa tisfaction with the decision, uncertainty about the decision, and othe r factors related to the decision were independent of the decision pha ses.