1. Women’s ICE regarding menopause and HRT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Concerns and attitudes towards the menopause within primary care: a qualitative study of women’s ideas, concerns and expectations regarding the menopause and hormone replacement therapy.
IRAS ID
256942
Contact name
Julian Barratt
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 16 days
Research summary
The research design and approach will use a generic qualitative methodology approach. The aim of study is to examine current views of female patients who are experiencing the menopause and have been given hormone related medication(HRT) to control their symptoms. The objective is to explore their ideas, concerns and expectations regarding HRT and to ascertain if they were given adequate information pre HRT initiation and to assess their knowledge regarding the menopause and HRT.HRT prescriptions in the UK have halved since two main studies were made public, the Women’s health initiative 2002 and the million women’s study (2003) which stated HRT increased the risk of breast cancer, stroke and heart disease. As a nurse within primary care and reviewing patients who attend for HRT and menopause advice it became evident they lacked knowledge regarding the biological changes, how long the symptoms would last and the pro and cons for HRT. \nNICE (2015) suggests many women are suffering in silence because of fears, lack of information relating to HRT which became evident during the consultation. \nThe project will involve a purposeful sampling of female patients aged 45-57 years of age who have been prescribed HRT in the last 16months, the age group is the average age of menopausal symptoms and the time scale will enable pts to recall their experiences of the consultation. One to one interviews will be conducted within the general practice clinic and semi structured questions used to recall their experiences, the interview will be audiotaped. The findings will allow clinical staff to assess if patient’s are given adequate information regarding this subject, how to increase awareness of menopausal symptoms and if an inhouse support group would be beneficial to patients. \n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
19/NS/0086
Date of REC Opinion
13 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion