Determinants of the intention to adopt hormone replacement therapy among premenopausal women

Objective: To identify the psychosocial factors that influence the intentio n to adopt hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at menopause. Methods: Random Digit Dialing was used to recruit 644 premenopausal non-hysterectomized wom en aged 45-54. Data were collected using a telephone questionnaire previous ly developed according to the theory of planned behaviour. Variables measur ed were: intention to adopt HRT (INT); attitude towards HRT (Aact); perceiv ed social norm (SN); perceived behavioural control (PBC); and personal norm ative belief(PNB). Socio-demographic data were also obtained. Results: Step wise multiple regression of INT on the theoretical variables yielded an R-2 of 0.70. The determinants were Aact (beta = 0.39, P < 0.001), PNB (beta = 0.25, (P < 0.001), PBC (beta = 0.23, P < 0.001) and SN (beta = 0.12, P < 0. 001). Women with a. strong intention to adopt HRT represented 25% of the sa mple. These women were more likely to believe that adopting HRT would have the following positive consequences: an improvement in general well-being, the prevention of health problems, an improvement in interpersonal relation ships, an increase in productivity, the regulation of mood swings and a red uction of hot flashes. They were also more likely to believe in the followi ng negative consequences: side-effects, an increased risk of cancer, the li kelihood of weight gain, and interference in the natural course of menopaus e tall at P<0.001). Conclusion: Actions that target behaviourial beliefs re garding HRT and perceived barriers to its adoption are most likely to influ ence adoption of HRT. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights res erved.