Légaré, France, Stacey, Dawn, Dodin, Sylvie, O'Connor, Annette, Richer, Monique, Griffiths, Frances, Leblanc, Annie, Rousseau, Jean L. C. and Tapp, Sylvie (2007) Women's decision making about the use of natural health products at menopause : a needs assessment and patient decision aid. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol.13 (No.7). pp. 741-749. doi:10.1089/acm.2006.6398 ISSN 1075-5535.

Research output not available from this repository.

Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

Objective: To identify the decision-making needs of women about the use of natural health products (NHP) at menopause and to develop a decision aid responsive to their needs.

Design: A qualitative study using focus groups, key informant interviews and group consultation. Content analysis was guided by the Ottawa Decision Support Framework.

Methods: Six focus groups with menopausal women aged 45 to 64 ( n = 40) and key informant interviews ( n = 15; physicians, nurses, women's advocacy group, NHP stores owners, pharmacists, policy makers) were conducted in two Canadian cities. Two groups of menopausal women ( n = 11) were consulted to obtain feedback on the acceptability of the new patient decision aid.

Results: The most common difficult decisions identified by women were: whether or not to take NHP; which NHP to choose; and whether or not to take anything for menopausal symptoms. In addition, key informants identified the challenge of choosing between hormone therapy and NHP for menopausal symptoms. The main sources of difficulty in making these decisions were the following: ( 1) inadequate knowledge and unrealistic expectations associated with NHP; ( 2) closed mindedness of physicians to discussion about NHP; ( 3) conflicting opinions of others; ( 4) inadequate resources to support NHP decision-making ( e. g., information, finances, time); and ( 5) menopausal symptoms interfering with decision-making ( e. g., lack of sleep due to hot flashes). To facilitate decision making, participants suggested the need for information about available choices, tighter regulation of NHP by the government, and access to health professionals conversant in NHP and medical options. The patient decision aid was developed according to the International Patient Decision Aid Standards and based on women's identified needs. Women described the aid as easy to understand and useful for considering the decisions about NHP.

Conclusions: Middle-age women reported difficulty when facing decisions about the use of NHP. Many sources of difficulty could be addressed in the patient decision aid. Subsequent studies should evaluate the effect of this decision aid on the decision-making process of women.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics R Medicine > RV Botanic, Thomsonian, and eclectic medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Social Science & Systems in Health (SSSH)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Menopause -- Alternative treatment, Needs assessment, Naturopathy
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Publisher:	Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers
ISSN:	1075-5535
Official Date:	September 2007
Dates:	Date Event September 2007 Published
Volume:	Vol.13
Number:	No.7
Number of Pages:	9
Page Range:	pp. 741-749
DOI:	10.1089/acm.2006.6398
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item