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

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.