Commissioning for menopause specialist services: A local perspective: An internet-based survey to assess the potential demand for menopause care in West Cheshire and the skills of local primary care clinicians in this field, with a view to informing future commissioning locally.

Autor:	Wilkinson JF; Western Avenue Medical Centre, Blacon, Chester, UK janewilkinson2@nhs.net., Short HL; West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Bury St Edmonds, UK., Wilkinson S; Health and Safety Executive, Bootle, Merseyside, UK., Mander A; Appollonia House Health Care, Oldham, Lancs, UK.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Post reproductive health [Post Reprod Health] 2015 Sep; Vol. 21 (3), pp. 98-104. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Aug 10.
DOI:	10.1177/2053369115595309
Abstrakt:	Objective: This study explores the perceived volume of women affected by peri- or post-menopausal issues that present to primary care clinicians in West Cheshire, plus the self-reported confidence of those clinicians in managing the menopause, and whether or not they feel that they and their patients should have access to a specialist menopause service. Study Design: Completion of an electronic survey. Population: General practitioners and practice nurses working in West Cheshire. Main Outcome Measure: To provide evidence for future local commissioning of menopause services. Results: Ninety-one clinicians working within West Cheshire were sent an email request to complete the survey with 53 responses received (58%). The majority were general practitioners and were within the 35-54 year age range. The majority perceived that, each week in their clinical practice, they see between one and eight women who are affected by peri- or post-menopausal symptoms. Regarding their self-reported skills and knowledge in managing the menopause, almost half felt they had 'good' knowledge but 'recognised (they) had learning needs'. Seven of the 53 (13%) felt their skills were 'not good'. Two-thirds of those clinicians who completed the survey felt that they and their patients should have access to a specialist menopause service locally. Conclusions: In the area covered by West Cheshire clinical commissioning group, there is no currently commissioned menopause service. This study has demonstrated that a substantial number of women present each week to clinicians working in this area who are felt to have peri- or post-menopausal symptoms. The clinicians have self-reported learning needs. Qualitative data from the survey would suggest training can be difficult to access. There is a clear need, both ethically and medically, for the commissioning of a West Cheshire specialist menopause service, with the proposed model being an integrated and holistic care model. Menopause care, and post-reproductive healthcare generally, provides an opportunity for collaboration and partnership working within an outcomes-based commissioning model. This study could be reviewed and replicated in other areas for comparison. (© The Author(s) 2015.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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