Evaluation of a natural health product decision aid: a tool for middle aged women considering menopausal symptom relief

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a self-administered decision aid for menopausal women facing decisions about natural health products.

Study design: This pre-/post-test study included peri- or post-menopausal women, aged 45-64 considering the use of a natural health product for management of menopausal symptoms. They were recruited from a Women's Health Center.

Outcome measures: The primary outcome was decisional conflict and secondary outcomes included knowledge, strength of values, and decision preference.

Results: Of 24 women, the typical participant was 50-64 years of age, Caucasian, married, and well educated. Compared to baseline, after using the decision aid, women's total decisional conflict was reduced from 63% to 24% (p<0.001) and knowledge improved from 76% to 87% (p=0.001). Of the 24 women, 10 were unsure of their choice at baseline and 3-post use of the decision aid (p=0.015). There was a trend for women preferring natural health products (n=12) to be more likely to rate the non-chemical aspect as important and the cost of the natural health product as less important; women who preferred not to take natural health products (n=3) rated the non-chemical aspect as less important and the costs as more important.

Conclusions: The natural health product decision aid improved the quality of decisions by enhancing knowledge and reducing decisional conflict. As well, women were more likely to make a choice that was consistent with their values.