The Evidence-based Consumer: Making Informed Decisions About Menopause, Hormone Replacement And Complementary Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$97,750.00
Summary
This project aims to find out whether providing women with information about menopause, and therapies to treat the symptoms and effects of menopause will change their use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or complementary therapies. A menopause information kit or brochure(s) with information about the risks and benefits of therapies and treatments for the symptoms and effects of menopause, will be provided to a group of women between the ages of 40 and 64 years. The information will be based ....This project aims to find out whether providing women with information about menopause, and therapies to treat the symptoms and effects of menopause will change their use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or complementary therapies. A menopause information kit or brochure(s) with information about the risks and benefits of therapies and treatments for the symptoms and effects of menopause, will be provided to a group of women between the ages of 40 and 64 years. The information will be based on up-to-date medical evidence about conventional HRT along with evidence about complementary therapies such as wild yam cream and herbal medicines. The information will outline the risks and benefits of these and other therapies as well as the proper use of HRT to control symptoms and effects of menopause. Current knowledge about reduction in heart disease risk and prevention of osteoporosis with the use of HRT, and the current knowledge about risk of ovarian, breast and uterine cancer will also be included in the information kit or brochure(s). The sample of women living in the Southern metropolitan region of South Australia will be included in the trial. They will be asked to complete a questionnaire and then some of the women will be asked to study the information about menopause and HRT. All participants will be asked to complete further questionnaires 3 months and 12 months later. The results will show whether providing women with information about menopause, HRT and complementary therapy will result in: 1. the women being more informed and better equipped to make the right decisions about treatment of the symptoms and effects of menopause, and 2. a more appropriate use of hormone replacement and complementary therapies to meet the individual needs of the women.Read moreRead less
The Effect Of Glucosamine Sulphate On Structural Disease Progression In Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,250,214.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease characterized by a progressive loss of cartilage and joint space resulting in increasing pain and difficulty performing usual daily activities. OA is the leading health problem amongst older Australians and a National Health Priority area. There is no known cure for OA and no intervention demonstrated to slow disease progression or delay time to joint replacement surgery. Currently patients are managed symptomatically with all clinical guidelines recommendi ....Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease characterized by a progressive loss of cartilage and joint space resulting in increasing pain and difficulty performing usual daily activities. OA is the leading health problem amongst older Australians and a National Health Priority area. There is no known cure for OA and no intervention demonstrated to slow disease progression or delay time to joint replacement surgery. Currently patients are managed symptomatically with all clinical guidelines recommending paracetamol as 'the preferred long term oral analgesic'. This recommendation is based on the increased risk of serious gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal diseases with long-term NSAIDs use in older people. However, NSAIDs appear to provide better pain relief for patients with more than mild joint pain. Amongst patients with OA, there is much demand for the dietary supplement glucosamine sulphate. Product marketing has led to the belief that glucosamine is able to slow the rate of joint destruction and cartilage loss and help ease joint pain with, in contrast to NSAIDs, little risk of side effects. However, the few trials conducted to date have been inconclusive. If the marketing claims are unjustified, many older people are wasting limited financial resources and due to unrealistic expectations of the benefit of glucosamine, placing a lower priority on lifestyle changes of proven effectiveness, such as regular exercise and weight loss. A total of 900 patients with knee OA will be randomly allocated to glucosamine sulphate or matching placebo capsules for two years. The main outcomes will be the rate of joint space narrowing, use of NSAIDs and physical disability. If glucosamine results in slowing disease progression or in reducing NSAIDs consumption, the widespread use of this product would effectively decrease pain, disability and NSAIDs-related illnesses amongst the increasing number of people with OA.Read moreRead less