Assessment of the understanding of the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in primary care physicians

This study suggests that the findings of the Women's Health Initiative are misunderstood by the majority of primary care specialists, although Ob/Gyns have a better understanding of the risks and benefits compared to other specialties. We hypothesize that respondents that overestimate the increase or decrease in risk were making the error of confusing relative risk with absolute risk difference. There is a great need for physician education about the attributable risks and benefits of HRT.