Menopausal hormone therapy: what are the problems in the perception of Chinese physicians?

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to investigate Chinese physicians’ perception and attitudes toward menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).

Methods

This nationwide online survey was conducted in China. Physicians registered in the WeChat groups of the Gynecological Endocrinology Committee of China’s Maternal and Child Health Care Association received a message invitation to complete this anonymous online survey from April 2020 to July 2020. Physicians’ knowledge of and attitudes toward MHT were surveyed.

Results

In total, 4672 questionnaires were submitted; only completed questionnaires could be submitted. The message was sent to 6021 doctors, so the response rate was 77.6%. Overall, 77.9–92.9% of physicians knew the common indications and contraindications to MHT. Additionally, 90.6%, 85.4%, 80.7% and 37.5% of physicians thought that MHT would increase the risk of venous thrombosis, breast cancer, endometrial cancer and weight gain, respectively. In total, 58.1% of the physicians mistakenly believed that a sex hormone test was one of the necessary examinations to reassess MHT prescription during follow-up visits. We found that 68.5% of physicians would consider using MHT themselves or recommend MHT to their partners in the future, and 11.4% were currently using MHT.

Conclusions

Most Chinese physicians have basic knowledge of MHT. Their misunderstandings about MHT mainly centered on the risks of endometrial cancer, weight gain and the necessary examinations during follow-up visits. These misunderstandings need to be clarified in future professional training programs.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在调查中国医师对更年期激素治疗（MHT）的认知和态度。

方法：这项全国性的线上调查在中国进行。在中国妇幼保健协会妇科内分泌委员会微信群中注册的医生均收到一条邀请他们在2020年4月至2020年7月期间完成线上匿名调查的信息。调查医师对MHT的认知和态度。

结果：共发放问卷4672份；只能提交全部完成的调查问卷。信息共发送给6021名医生, 回复率为77.6%。总的来说, 77.9–92.9%的医生知道MHT的常见适应症和禁忌症。此外, 90.6%、85.4%、80.7%和37.5%的医生认为MHT会增加静脉血栓形成、乳腺癌、子宫内膜癌和体重增加的风险。总的来说, 58.1%的医生错误地认为性激素检查是在随访期间重新评估MHT的必要检查之一。我们发现, 68.5%的医生会考虑自己使用MHT或在将来向同伴们推荐MHT, 11.4%的医生目前正在使用MHT。

结论：大多数中国医生对MHT有基本了解。他们对MHT的误解主要集中在子宫内膜癌的风险、体重增加和随访期间的必要检查上。这些误解需要在未来的专业培训中清楚明确。

Keywords:

• Menopausal hormone therapy
• perception
• Chinese physicians
• survey
• questionnaire

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Chinese obstetrician and gynecologists for participating in the study. They thank the Gynecological Endocrinology Committee of China’s Maternal and Child Health Care Association for helping to carry out the survey.

Potential conflicts of interest

The manuscript has been read and approved by all the authors. All the authors have met the requirements for authorship. All the authors believe that the manuscript represents honest work.

Source of funding

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation [Grant 82074143].

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation [Grant 82074143].