Menopause. 25(5):563–570, MAY 2018
DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001042
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PMID: 29257032
Issn Print: 1072-3714
Publication Date: 2018/05/01
GP registrar consultations addressing menopause-related symptoms: a cross-sectional analysis
Jasmine De Giovanni;Amanda Tapley;Penny Druce;Andrew Davey;Mieke van Driel;Kim Henderson;Nigel Catzikiris;Katie Mulquiney;Simon Morgan;Neil Spike;Rohan Kerr;Parker Magin;
+ Author Information
1School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle2GP Synergy General Practice Regional Training Organisation3Discipline of General Practice and Primary Care Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland4Eastern Victoria GP Training, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne5General Practice Training Tasmania.
Abstract
To investigate the prevalence and associations of general practitioner registrars’ (trainees’) management of women with menopause-related symptoms.A cross-sectional analysis from the Registrar Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) cohort study. In ReCEnT registrars collected data of 60 consecutive consultations on three occasions during training. The outcome factor was menopause-related problems/diagnoses (compared with other problems/diagnoses). Associations of registrar, patient, practice, and consultation-independent variables were assessed by univariate and multivariable logistic regression.In all, 1,333 registrars conducted 189,774 consultations involving 295,017 problems/diagnoses. Of these, there were 1,291 problems/diagnoses (0.44% of all problems/diagnoses) relating to menopause. Significant multivariable independent associations of a problem being menopause-related were registrar female sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.30-3.26) and registrars working part-time (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.98 for full-time work). Consultation-related associations included an increased number of problems addressed in the consultation (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.21-1.37), and menopause-related problems/diagnoses not being new (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.66-0.86). Significant educational associations were increased odds of recourse to in-consultation sources of information or assistance (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.80-2.44) and of generating learning goals (OR 3.15, 95% CI 2.66-3.72).Registrars seek more assistance and further knowledge about menopause compared with other problems. Thus, they may find the area particularly challenging and could benefit from further education regarding managing menopause. Our findings may help inform the design of measures aimed at improving the delivery of menopause training for general practice registrars.
