DECIDING ABOUT USING HORMONE-THERAPY FOR PREVENTION OF DISEASES OF ADVANCED AGE

The purpose of this study was to examine the decision processes in whi ch women engage as they commit to use, and continue to use, postmenopa usal hormone therapy and to consider the implications of these decisio n processes for health care. Data were collected from midlife women in a series of six focus groups encompassing multiple ethnic and social groups. Focus group transcripts were analyzed for themes reflecting co mponents of women's decision processes and decision patterns, and poin ts at which health care providers were involved were identified. Parti cipants identified five phases of a decision process: precontemplation , contemplation, commitment, critical evaluation, and continuance of t herapy. Health care providers have significant opportunities to intera ct with women during the transitions between these phases; hence these interactions need to be synchronized with women's decision processes and need to address affective as well as cognitive processes.