Abstract
Objective: To compare Estonian and Finnish gynaecologists’ and general practitioners’ (GP) opinions
on and prescribing practices in hormone treatment (HT) during and after menopause.
Methods: Data was collected using similar postal questionnaires. In 2000 in Estonia, a random
sample included 212 gynaecologists and 288 GPs (68% responded); and in 1989 in Finland,
100 male and 100 female gynaecologists, 100 general practitioner specialists and 100
non-specialists (73% responded). Gynaecologists and GPs were compared to each other
within the countries, and the two countries were compared within the specialities.
Results: Gynaecologists’ opinions of benefits were positive and similar in Estonia and Finland,
and more positive than those of GPs. Gynaecologists and GPs in both countries had
similar opinions about harms. Gynaecologists were in favour of longer HT than GPs,
and longer treatment was recommended in Finland than in Estonia. In both countries
a large proportion of physicians (48% of gynaecologists in Estonia and 65% in Finland)
stated that they would routinely prescribe HT to all women at menopause without contraindication,
regardless of symptoms, and some (31% of gynaecologists in Estonia and 19% in Finland)
favoured routine prescribing to all postmenopausal women.
Conclusions: Estonian physicians’ positive attitudes suggest increased use of HT. Comparisons
of the two countries and specialities suggest that physicians’ positive opinions may
long predate increased use.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 18,
2003
Received in revised form:
September 30,
2003
Received:
January 15,
2003
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
