Exploring Knowledge and Attitudes towards Accessing MHT

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Exploring Knowledge and Attitudes towards Accessing Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) for Mood Symptoms in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women: Perspectives of Women and Prescribing Psychiatrists

 

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

For Psychiatrists

Project ID: 46845
Project title: Exploring Knowledge and Attitudes towards Accessing Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) for Mood Symptoms in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women: Perspectives of Women and Prescribing Psychiatrists

Chief Investigator’s name: 
Department of Psychiatry
Phone: (03) 9076 9888
Email: [email protected]

We invite you to take part in this study. Please read this Explanatory Statement in full before deciding whether to take part. If you want to learn more about this project, please contact us at the phone numbers or email addresses listed above. 

What does the research involve? 

In 2023, the Australian Senate referred an inquiry into the issues related to menopause and perimenopause. The Australian Government is currently investing $2.9 million over three years to develop national clinical guidelines for perimenopause and menopause, with the aim to ensure consistent and available information to support care for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.  There is also a recommendation to the Australasian Menopause society to review and update their guidance for medical practitioners specifically in the treatment and management of mental health symptoms in the time surrounding menopause. Given the role of Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) in treating mood changes in this period, the views of Psychiatrists (potential prescribers of the treatment) is a current gap in the literature. This may help support targeted professional development activities to mental health practitioners and inform perspectives on real world practice, including discussions surrounding the scope of Psychiatrists in prescribing hormonal based therapies. 

This survey will take around 15-20 minutes to complete and will be a combination of tick-box and free text answers. We intend that this research study will help us to understand the views of both women and Psychiatrists, with the aim to inform the delivery of further education and guidelines. 

You are eligible to complete this survey if you are a current practicing Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You do not have to take part in it. Please be aware that by completing and submitting this survey, you are indicating your consent to participate. If you do not decide to participate but then change your mind before finishing the survey, please close your web browser. 

This survey has been approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC). Any person with concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study should contact [email protected] and quote the protocol number 46845. If you have any questions about the study please contact Dr Lily Aboud at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne by phoning (03) 9076 6591 or emailing [email protected].

Why were you invited for this research? 
We invite you to take part because you are a practicing Fellow of the RANZCP. We are seeking the views of Australian Psychiatrists regarding their knowledge, attitudes towards, and practice regarding the treatment of mood symptoms around the time of menopause. Your email was obtained via the RANZCP. 

Source of funding 
There is no external source of funding for this project.

Consenting to participate in the project and withdrawing from the research
For this online survey, when you click the link at the end of this document, you are consenting to participate in this project. As this project survey is anonymous, we are not able to withdraw your response after you submit it.

Possible benefits and risks to participants 
There are no anticipated risks to participants. 

Confidentiality
The information you provide is completely confidential. Access to study information will be limited only to the members of the research team. No identifying information will appear in any publications or presentations of the research. The aim of this data will be to inform a paper, a presentation at a menopause related conference, and be used as part of official scholarly project submission to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

Storage of data 
The data will be stored for at least 5 years on secure Monash University servers accessible only to current and future members of the research team. The data will be destroyed after 5 years. 

Use of data for other purposes
To meet data sharing rules, we may share anonymised data for use by other researchers. We will put the data on secure public storage. Sharing data helps make sure the truth of research. For instance, some journals need this before they will accept a paper. Journals can use the data to confirm that findings are true. Sharing data also allows other researchers to answer new questions. Any shared data will not have details that would share your identity. Only anonymous data may be used for other projects where ethics approval has been granted. 

Results 
A summary of the results will be available on the webpage https://www.monash.edu/medicine/hercentre/education/publications after July 30, 2026. The data will form the basis of a scholarly project submission to the Royal Australian College of Psychiatrists.

Complaints
Should you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of the project, you are welcome to contact the Executive Officer, Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC):

Executive Officer
Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC)
Office of Research Ethics and Integrity
Room 116, Administration Building B (3D)
26 Sports Walk, Clayton Campus
Monash University VIC 3800

Tel: +61 3 9905 2052
Email: [email protected]