Physicians' perceptions of menopause and prescribing practices in Morocco

Objective: To investigate the prescribing practices of Moroccan physicians around menopause. Methods: A survey was carried out on a representative sample of physicians in the capital city Rabat. The sample included general practitioners, gynecologists, cardiologists and rhumatologists, practicing in both public and private facilities. The instrument consisted of close- and open-ended questions about the socio-demographic characteristics of physicians, their patient population, their prescribing practices, and their perceptions of menopause and the different medical approaches to managing the symptoms and risks associated with it. Results: Most of the physicians interviewed are positively inclined towards the notion of prevention and in favor of hormonal treatment, and approximately half report that they have prescribed hormone therapy. Gynecologists and male physicians prescribe hormones more frequently, as well as physicians who are at private facilities. These findings are discussed in relation to the physicians' perceptions of the menopause transition. Conclusion: There are considerable variations in prescribing practices and perceptions of menopause among Moroccan physicians.