Effectiveness of osteoporosis prevention instruction program on nursing college students’ knowledge at Baghdad University

Abstract

Objective(s): Assess the effectiveness of osteoporosis prevention instruction program on nursing college students’knowledge at Baghdad University.Methodology: A quasi-experimental design was used to assess the effectiveness of osteoporosis preventioninstruction program on nursing college students at University of Baghdad from April 2011 to September 2011. Arandom sample consisted of (40) females students from first year of Nursing College \ Baghdad University. The datawas collected by using constructed questionnaire, which consists of three parts. Part one: consists of demographicinformation and health characteristics .Part two: consists of students’ daily life behaviors which include, dietarybehaviors, and sport behaviors. Part three: consists of questions regarding students’ knowledge about osteoporosis,it contains three domains which are: Domain I: Anatomy and physiology of bones. Domain II: Nutritional elementsthose are necessary for bones building. Domain III: Osteoporosis. Reliability of the questionnaire is determinedthrough the pilot study and the validity through a panel of (14) experts. Descriptive statistical analysis proceduresand inferential statistical analysis procedures were employed for data analysisand all the statistical procedures weretested at P value ≤0.05.Results: The results revealed that 6 of 9 dietary behaviors of the students was good and the knowledge of thestudents concerning osteoporosis was low before implementation of the program but after implementation of theinstruction program the knowledge of the students are highly improved. The effectiveness of the program is notaffected by demographic characteristics and daily life behaviors, that means the program can be implemented for allfemales students and achieve the objectives of the program.
 Recommendations: The study recommended that science curriculums at all educational levels (pre-school,elementary, high school, college, and nursing schools) should be developed to address risk factors and preventivebehavioral health lifestyle related to osteoporosis. Future researches on osteoporosis prevention should focus on ayounger population, namely adolescents, to improve their knowledge of osteoporosis early enough to influence theirself-efficacy for their health lifestyle behavioral changes.