| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 衛生政策與管理研究所 === 94 === Purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between risk perception and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and dietary supplements among menopausal women. This study was designed to triangulate Quantitative and Qualitative methods. Quantitative research was analyzed secondary data entitled Survey of Menopausal Women’s health in Taiwan (2003). Subjects were 1942 menopausal women aged 40-60. Applied statistical methods included Descriptive Statistics, Chi-Square, and Binary Logistic Regression. Qualitative research was conducted with 20 menopausers and 10 medical professors via individual interview.
Quantitative results showed: (1) 60.6% of the menopausal sample taking dietary supplements, higher than non-menopausal controls; (2) the mean of dietary supplement use is 1.8, range 1-9; (3) menopausal women with a higher educational degree manifesting lower self-perceived health status, using medical care and hormone replacement therapy, as well as tending to use dietary supplements.
Qualitative results showed The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) published as of 2002, along with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) research. Such findings have tremendous impact on risk perception. Physical risk was the main reason that the menopausal women consider using hormone replacement therapy or dietary supplements; psychosocial risk ranked second. Relatives and friends influenced these women to use them. Generally speaking, women are easily misled as to the meaning of the term, thinking dietary supplements healthy. And most think of dietary supplements as a mere food supplement. Having no special expectations will reduce the performance risk.
Results suggest medical professors should know women’s condition of using dietary supplements, to estimate correct self-choice, and to afford the risk information about food and pill extraction of dietary supplements. Women should develop the habit of recording and consulting. It must remind of risk or adverse effect by mass media everywhen.The HRT guidebook of Bureau of health promotion can augment the risk conception. Future studies can explore or develop suitable questionnaires to make accurate conclusions. Longitudinal research is recommended, since it can observe changes at different menopausal stages of such usage behavior.
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