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Knowledge, attitude and prescription practice of menopausal hormone replacement therapy by doctors in UITH, Ilorin Nigeria


J.K. Olarinoye
A.O. Olarinoye
M.J Saka
P.O Ajiboye
B.A Olagbaye
P.O Okoro
E.O. Sanya

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and prescription practice of menopausal-HRT (mHRT) by doctors in UITH, Ilorin.
Method: All consenting doctors in O&G, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Public Health and Interns at the UITH completed a structured questionnaire. SPSS software version 22 was used for analysis. Associations between categorical variables were tested using the chi-square (x2) while the student-t test was used for the continuous variables (p <0.05).
Results: Eighty doctors, 56 males and 24 females responded. Majority (63.8%) rated their knowledge of mHRT average; (17.5%) believed they had good knowledge, while (18.7%) had poor knowledge. Gynaecologists had the highest mHRT Knowledge Score (72.4) while public health doctors had the lowest (33.7), (83.7%) had no formal training on the use of mHRT. Fifty-five percent did not think menopause should be treated. Just 25% prescribed mHRT where 58.8% had no reason for not prescribing. Only 18.8% had ever referred menopause patients to specialists. Forty percent use alternative therapies for menopausal symptoms, majorly vitamins and herbs.
Conclusion: The knowledge, attitude and prescription practice of the studied doctors was poor. Trainings are still needed in this area.

Keywords: Menopause; hormone replacement therapy; doctors


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eISSN: 2467-8252
print ISSN: 2360-7793