Determinants of first prescription of hormone replacement therapy. A follow-up study among 1689 women aged 45-60 years

The aim of the present study was to ascertain the cumulative incidence of first hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the factors that predict its prescription. In a general population 1689 women were followed for 9 months in order to trace first HRT prescriptions. Determinants (well-being, attitude towards menopause, menopausal status and another 9 variables) were measured by means of a questionnaire. Data analyses were performed for all women and for women with or without typical climacteric complaints. The cumulative 9 month incidence of HRT was 6.2%. For women without typical complaints a lower level of well-being (odds ratio 5.5; 95% Cl 1.9–15.5) and the former use of the contraceptive pill (odds ratio 4.6; 95% CI 1.0–20.5) were independently associated with HRT prescription. For women with typical complaints a positive attitude towards ‘menopause should be treated' (odds ratio 3.8; 95% Cl 1.8–8.0) was a determinant of HRT prescription. The cumulative incidence of HRT prescription is high, but from additional data it is apparent that within a period of 1 year and 9 months the majority of women stop taking HRT. For women without typical complaints, physicians prescribe HRT five times more often to those with a lower level of well-being. For women with typical complaints the physician's prescription is primarily related to the woman's attitude towards (medical) treatment of the menopause

Vasomotor symptoms and well-being in the climacteric years

Objectives: To determine more closely the relationship between vasomotor symptoms, well-being and climacteric status according to the last menstrual bleeding and according to the women themselves. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was executed using a postal questionnaire. Well-being of women with and without vasomotor symptoms was compared, for the different menopausal statuses. All 2729 women living in a commuter suburb of Rotterdam aged 45-60 years were approached of whom 1947 (71.3%) responded. Well-being was measured by the Inventory of Subjective Health (ISH) and three subscales of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). Results: The results showed that the relationship between vasomotor symptoms and well-being was dependent on climacteric status. Pre- and (middle and late) postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms more often experienced a relatively lower level of well- being compared to women without these symptoms. However, when the prevalence of vasomotor symptoms is as its peak, i.e. in late perimenopause, a difference in the level of well-being between women with and without vasomotor symptoms was absent. Conclusions: It is concluded that well-being and vasomotor symptoms were inversely related in all menopausal statuses except for the (late) perimenopausal phase. For this no somatic explanation seems plausible. A more social scientific explanation is suggested

Duration of hormonal replacement therapy in general practice; a follow- up study

Objectives: To assess the mean duration of use of HRT in general practice and to identify determinants of the duration of HRT use. Methods: A general population of 1689 women aged 45-60 years and enlisted in five group practices of general practitioners were followed for 9 months to trace first HRT prescriptions. All 103 women who were prescribed HRT were followed for a period of 2.25 years. Duration of HRT was assessed by using the data provided on the dispensing of HRT. Possible determinants of duration of use, such as attitude towards menopause, menopausal status and another six variables were measured by means of a questionnaire. Results: None of the 103 women received HRT for a preventive purpose; the main indication was menopausal complaints. More than 60% of the women stopped their HRT within 6 months and only 8% of the women remained on HRT for more than 2 years. The mean duration of use was 7 months. Determinants that significantly predicted the duration of HRT use were age, attitude towards treatment of the menopause and the group practice. Conclusions: The mean duration of HRT use is very short, despite the fact that the most prevalent indication is the alleviation of menopausal symptoms. Apparently, Dutch women are presently unwilling to take HRT for longer periods

Arts-patiëntcommunicatie in een krachtige metafoor

Over communicatie in de spreekkamer is al veel ‘gecommuniceerd’. Desondanks is een Britse collega erin geslaagd hieraan een verfrissende bijdrage toe te voegen. Daarbij maakt hij gebruik van 2 aansprekende metaforen voor de 2 fasen van het consult: ‘the house of discovery’ (vraagverheldering) en ‘the house of decision’ (besluitvorming). Door het originele gebruik van beeldtaal en het invoegen van consultfragmenten leest dit boek bijna als een roman

Arts-patiëntcommunicatie in een krachtige metafoor

Over communicatie in de spreekkamer is al veel ‘gecommuniceerd’. Desondanks is een Britse collega erin geslaagd hieraan een verfrissende bijdrage toe te voegen. Daarbij maakt hij gebruik van 2 aansprekende metaforen voor de 2 fasen van het consult: ‘the house of discovery’ (vraagverheldering) en ‘the house of decision’ (besluitvorming). Door het originele gebruik van beeldtaal en het invoegen van consultfragmenten leest dit boek bijna als een roman

Experiential learning during general practice education and training

Veen M, Snijders-Blok B, Bareman F, Bueving H. Experiential learning during general practice education and training. Huisarts Wet 2015;58(1):6-10. Background: To gain insight into the background and development of experience-sharing during general practice training, from a historical perspective. Method: The literature was searched and members of staff who were involved in the development of experiential learning were interviewed. Results: The motivation to incorporate experiential learning in general practice education and training is a consequence of the social and educational context of the 1970s. Training not only focuses on the medical aspects of general practice but especially on the doctor–patient relationship and the role of the doctor’s personality in this. Experiential learning formed the basis of the educational programme, in which emphasis was on the freedom of trainee doctors to structure their own education. Experiential learning enabled students to share their experiences and to learn from each other and formed the basis of education and training on refresher days. The Balint method was a source of inspiration for GPs in the 1970s and served as model for the introduction of experiential learning and the involvement of behavioural scientists. After the undergraduate phase of training, experiential learning was expected to bring about a change of culture and contribute to general practice medicine as ’continuous, integral, and personalized care’. Nowadays, the content of refresher days is established in advance and the function of experience-sharing as the source of the educational programme on refresher days has elapsed. The aim of cultural changes is also no longer relevant. However, the goal that general practice trainees share experiences and support each other is still very relevant. Conclusion: The essence of experiential learning has not changed over the years, but its place in the medical curriculum has. It no longer forms the basis of medical education but is part of the educational programme. Nowadays, emphasis is more on structure and content.</p