Abstract
PurposeThis study aimed to measure the prevalence of menopausal symptoms in patients attending a multidisciplinary model of care clinic at their initial clinic visit and their subsequent follow-up consultation using a validated patient reported outcome measure to assess whether menopausal symptoms after cancer had improved.MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of patients attending the clinic in a 12-month period in 2017 (n=189). Recorded variables included patient demographics, details of index cancer, previous treatments and menopausal symptom management strategies. Severity of menopausal symptoms was evaluated using the Greene Climacteric Scale. The extent to which patients were bothered by symptoms were combined into two categories and dichotomized (present/absent). Differences in symptom prevalence between the initial consultation and first follow-up visit were examined using McNemar’s Test. ResultsThe majority of patients attending the clinic had a history of breast cancer (72%). 55% of patients were prescribed a non-hormonal therapy at their initial visit, most commonly gabapentin. Significantly fewer patients reported being bothered by hot flushes, fatigue, sleep difficulties and loss of interest in sex, anxiety or troubles concentrating at the first follow-up visit compared to their initial consultation (p < 0.01). ConclusionIn this study there was an improvement in self-reported menopausal symptoms in a significant proportion of cancer survivors attending a multidisciplinary menopause clinic between their initial and first subsequent follow-up consultations.
Does a multidisciplinary menopausal symptoms after cancer clinic reduce symptoms?
