Hormone replacement therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used by perimenopausal women to manage the symptoms associated with menopause and for potential long-term health benefits. These potential benefits include protection against osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease (Shaywitz et al., 1999). The decision to start therapy must take into consideration the potential risks of breast and endometrial cancer, and thromboembolic disorders (Cutson & Meuleman, 2000).

The purpose of this project is to provide information to perimenopausal and postmenopausal women related to hormone replacement therapy. This information will be made available via internet and world wide web at www.velocity.net/~rrmartin. The web page was evaluated using the Model for Evaluating Printed Educational Materials by
Bernier and Yasko (1991). The content is based on a review of the literature and is presented at the eighth grade level using the McLaughlin Smog Formula (McLaughlin, 1969). The topics covered include health risks, benefits, and alternative therapies. The theoretical framework for this project is the Neuman Systems Model by Betty Neuman (1995). Based on this theory, the nurse practitioner analyzes how sociocultural, developmental, and psychological variables influence a patient’s health practices (Reed, 1993).