Prevalence and predictors of complementary and alternative medicine/non-pharmacological interventions use for menopausal symptoms within the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening

<b>Objectives:</b> The negative publicity about menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) has led to increased use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) for menopausal symptom relief. We report on the prevalence and predictors of CAM/NPI among UK postmenopausal women. <b>Method:</b> Postmenopausal women aged 50–74 years were invited to participate in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS). A total of 202 638 women were recruited and completed a baseline questionnaire. Of these, 136 020 were sent a postal follow-up-questionnaire between September 2006 and May 2009 which included ever-use of CAM/NPI for menopausal symptom relief. Both questionnaires included MHT use. <b>Results:</b> A total of 88 430 (65.0%) women returned a completed follow-up-questionnaire; 22 206 (25.1%) reported ever-use of one or more CAM/NPI. Highest use was reported for herbal therapies (43.8%; 9725/22 206), vitamins (42.6%; 9458/22 206), lifestyle approaches (32.1%; 7137/22 206) and phytoestrogens (21.6%; 4802/22 206). Older women reported less ever-use of herbal therapies, vitamins and phytoestrogens. Lifestyle approaches, aromatherapy/reflexology/acupuncture and homeopathy were similar across age groups. Higher education, Black ethnicity, MHT or previous oral contraceptive pill use were associated with higher CAM/NPI use. Women assessed as being less hopeful about their future were less likely to use CAM/NPI. <b>Conclusion:</b> One in four postmenopausal women reported ever-use of CAM therapies/NPI for menopausal symptom relief, with lower use reported by older women. Higher levels of education and previous MHT use were positive predictors of CAM/NPI use. UKCTOCS Trial registration: ISRCTN22488978

**研究目的：** 针对绝经激素治疗（menopausal hormone therapy, MHT）的负面宣传，使得绝经症状缓解所用的补充与替代医学（complementary and alternative medicines, CAM）及非药物干预（non-pharmacological interventions, NPI）的使用量显著上升。本研究旨在调查英国绝经后女性中CAM/NPI的使用现况及其预测因素。**研究方法：** 本研究招募年龄介于50至74岁的绝经后女性参与英国卵巢癌筛查协作试验（UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening, UKCTOCS），最终共纳入202638名完成基线问卷的女性。其中136020名女性于2006年9月至2009年5月间收到邮寄随访问卷，问卷内容涵盖是否曾使用CAM/NPI缓解绝经症状；两份问卷均收集了MHT使用情况。**研究结果：** 最终共有88430名（65.0%）女性返回完整随访问卷，其中22206名（25.1%）报告曾使用至少一种CAM/NPI。使用比例最高的类别为草药疗法（43.8%；9725/22206）、维生素补充剂（42.6%；9458/22206）、生活方式干预（32.1%；7137/22206）与植物雌激素（21.6%；4802/22206）。年龄较大的女性使用草药疗法、维生素补充剂及植物雌激素的比例更低。不同年龄组在生活方式干预、芳香疗法/反射疗法/针灸以及顺势疗法的使用比例上无显著差异。较高的受教育水平、黑人种族、既往MHT使用史或口服避孕药使用史，均与更高的CAM/NPI使用概率相关。对自身未来抱有较低希望的女性，使用CAM/NPI的可能性更低。**研究结论：** 每四名绝经后女性中即有一名曾使用CAM/NPI缓解绝经症状，老年女性的使用比例更低。较高的受教育水平与既往MHT使用史是CAM/NPI使用的正向预测因素。UKCTOCS试验注册号：ISRCTN22488978