One of the Largest Post-WHI Physician Surveys Shows More Education is Needed: Patient Misinformation About Hormone Therapy Re...(a complex issue and patients should part...),Health

Physicians make treatment decisions based on information shared by their patients. The survey revealed that 100 percent of physicians say the severity of their patients' symptoms is "somewhat" or "very important" to them when deciding whether to prescribe HT, closely followed by the range and specific types of symptoms (97 percent) and patient requests (94 percent).

Doctors were also asked to choose from a list of valuable tips to help their patients manage menopause. The following were the top five selections:

#1: Document and prioritize their symptoms, including how often they have

symptoms and how severe they are

#2: Think through your own risk/benefit comfort level prior to a

consultation

#3: Come to the physician's office with a list of questions prepared

#4: Learn about HT in general ahead of time

#5: Document your family health history

"In some ways, the complexity of the WHI has been a blessing in disguise," said menopause expert Nanette Santoro, MD, Professor and Director of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center's Division of Reproductive Endocrinology in New York and member of The Hormone Foundation's Women's Health Task Force. "Physicians are spending more time than ever discussing the risks and benefits of HT with their patients and are focused on individualizing the HT regimen to the specific needs of the patient. This can include adjusting the amount of the dose, the ingredients and the route of administration."

The survey showed that for the treatment of moderate to severe menopause symptoms, 74 percent of physicians still think of HT as a first line treatment. In addition, the survey identified that physicians are considering HT options outside of the traditional pill formulations more
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