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F Griffiths

Publications and source records attributed to F Griffiths.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Women's health concerns. Is the promotion of hormone replacement therapy for prevention important to women?

The objectives of this study were to find out women's health concerns for the community and for themselves as they age and whether the promotion of hormone replacement therapy for prevention is important to them. A postal questionnaire was sent to 1649 women aged 20-69 years. The sample was random but stratified for age and taken from the lists of eight general practices in the town of Stockton-on-Tees in north east England. The questionnaire included questions on priorities for health care, fears for personal health with ageing, knowledge about osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and hormone replacement therapy. A 74.3% response rate was achieved. Cancer was named as deserving highest priority for health care in Britain today by 40.7% of respondents. The promotion of long term hormone replacement therapy was given a relatively low priority. The health problem women named as the one they most fear will affect them as they age was, for 30.2% of women, cancer; for 18.8% of women, dementia; for 11.6% of women, arthritis; for 8.8% of women, heart disease. The role of oestrogen in preventing osteoporosis was known by 74.9% of respondents and its role in prevention of cardiovascular disease by 6.6%. Lack of exercise as a risk factor for osteoporosis was known by 29.0% and as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease by 84.6%. Arthritis-like pain was thought to be a warning sign of osteoporosis by by 55.8% of respondents. The promotion of hormone replacement therapy for prevention does not appear to be a high priority for women.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The use of hormone replacement therapy; results of a community survey.

Hormone replacement therapy is used for both menopausal symptoms and in prevention, but for the latter to be effective there may be a need to promote its use. Suitable strategies need to be informed by current practice. A postal questionnaire was therefore sent to 1649 women aged 20-69 years in Stockton-on-Tees to assess which women consider and take hormone replacement therapy. The response rate was 74%. Therapy had been considered by 346 (28%) women of whom 164 (47%) were premenopausal. It was taken by 20% of women aged 45-65 years. Users were more likely to have taken the contraceptive pill. Use of therapy by women with osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease, or with a family history of these, was low. As women used to the idea of taking hormone replacement therapy and accustomed to taking the contraceptive pill reach menopausal age there is likely to be an increase in uptake of therapy. By targeting the 'at risk' groups of women, the primary care team may be able to make most effective use of the therapy and their own resources for the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Women's decisions about whether or not to take hormone replacement therapy: influence of social and medical factors.

BACKGROUND: General practitioners have been described as reluctant to prescribe hormone replacement therapy although its use is widely discussed and advocated in the popular media. AIM: This study set out to identify women's perceptions of media coverage of hormone replacement therapy; the people influencing women's decisions about therapy and women's sources of information; their general practitioners' attitudes to therapy; and women's experiences of the primary health care team in relation to hormone replacement therapy. METHOD: In 1993, a postal questionnaire survey was undertaken of 1649 women aged between 20 and 69 years registered with eight general practices in Stockton-on-Tees. RESULTS: A total of 1225 women (74%) returned questionnaires. Women considered that the media portrayed mainly positive images of hormone replacement therapy. A substantial minority of women found the media information unhelpful (30%) or felt that it was incorrect (17%). General practitioners and practice nurses were most frequently considered to be the most important people in helping women decide about taking therapy, but relatives and friends were also important; 41% of women named no one. The media, friends and relatives were most commonly cited as the main sources of information about therapy. Of the women who had discussed hormone replacement therapy with their general practitioner, 65% felt that their general practitioner was in favour of its use for relieving menopausal symptoms. Two thirds of women felt they had had enough time and information when discussing hormone replacement therapy with their general practitioner and/or practice nurse. CONCLUSION: Women did not seem to perceive any resistance from their general practitioner to the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy. Although women gathered information about therapy from sources other than their doctor, doctors have an important role, as providers of the therapy, in listening to women and helping them to make their own decision about whether or not to take hormone replacement therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Women's use of hormone replacement therapy for relief of menopausal symptoms, for prevention of osteoporosis, and after hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Hormone replacement therapy is used for the relief of menopausal symptoms. In the United Kingdom, guidelines have been developed for the use of hormone replacement therapy in the prevention of osteoporosis, and in the United States of America its use has also been recommended for cardiovascular disease prevention. However, compliance has been found to be a problem, and rates of prescribing vary between general practitioners. AIM: This study set out to describe the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy in one general practice, to enable doctors to plan future prescribing and promotion of hormone replacement therapy, taking into account constraints on its use. METHOD: The patient records of users of hormone replacement therapy were examined to collect data on menopausal status, reason for use, length of use, breaks from therapy and reasons for stopping therapy. Women with a history of hysterectomy and with risk factors for osteoporosis were identified from the practice morbidity register. Their use of hormone replacement therapy was recorded. RESULTS: Of women aged 40-59 years on the practice list, 348 were taking hormone replacement therapy (20%). Of 107 women aged under 52 years who had had a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy 76 were taking therapy (71%). Of 158 women under the age of 52 years who had had a hysterectomy with preservation of the ovaries 39 were taking therapy (25%). Among women taking hormone replacement therapy for the relief of menopausal symptoms, the highest rate of use was among those aged 50-54 years where 93 were on therapy (24% of women in that age group in the practice). Twenty out of 47 women with a recorded risk factor for osteoporosis were taking therapy. More than three quarters of women using hormone replacement therapy appeared to be taking it continuously. CONCLUSION: The uptake of hormone replacement therapy was found to be high for women with a surgical menopause, the group most easily identifiable as at risk of osteoporosis. Women who decided to take therapy appeared to take it continuously, and therefore effectively for prevention. Rate of uptake, rather than compliance, is more likely to constrain its use in prevention.

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