Poster Presentation

Thursday, July 12, 2007
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Thursday, July 12, 2007
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
This presentation is part of : Poster Presentation II
R.I.T.E Study: Researching the Impact of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy on Immune, Inflammatory, Cardiovascular and Quality of Life Effects in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
Janith Williams, DNP, WHNP, RNC, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA, Beverly Gerard, MD, Medical Staff and Researcher, FEM Centre, Fort Worth, TX, USA, and Danita Alfred, PhD, RN, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
Learning Objective #1: define bioidentical hormone therapy and accurately explain the impact of bioidentical hormone therapy on three quality of life indicators in perimenopausal and menopausal women.
Learning Objective #2: list the four most commonly seen benefits and the four most commonly seen side effects of bioidentical hormone therapy in the study population.
The findings of the Women's Health Initiative have resulted in increasing numbers of women utilizing therapies other than conventional synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Although exact numbers are difficult to obtain, it is estimated that over 10,000 women in the U.S. and tens of thousands more in other countries have turned to bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) for relief of symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Bioidentical hormones are plant derived and molecularly identical to endogenous female hormones. Basic and short term clinical research studies have demonstrated efficacy and safety of BHT use, and improvement in quality of life measures in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. However, to date long term studies of BHT have not been conducted and published in the U.S. or internationally.

The RITE study came about in part in response to the strongly expressed wishes and requests of our local patient population, many of whom experienced positive outcomes while using BHT.

The RITE study is a three year, longtitudinal, prospective, time series study to investigate the effects of BHT in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. The study focuses on the influence of compounded bioidentical plant derived BHT on specific biomarkers associated with inflammation, clotting, diabetes, and premature development of cardiovascular disease in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. The study also focuses on the impact of BHT on quality of life measures.

The RITE multidisciplinary study team includes doctorally prepared nurse practitioners, physicians, registered nurses, a PhD neuropharmacologist, pharmacists, bench scientists, a psychologist, a biostatistician and a PhD laboratory consultant.

The study will follow 100 women recruited from the community for three years. Enrollment began in spring 2006. This poster will present year one findings regarding the biomarkers and quality of life indicators. An annotated evidence based international review of literature will be made available to poster session attendees interested in BHT.

See more of Poster Presentation II
See more of The 18th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (11 -- 14 July, 2007)