Osteoporosis Knowledge Test Research Articles

Assessing osteoporosis awareness and knowledge levels of Turkish multiple sclerosis patients: an observational study.

To assess the knowledge and awareness of osteoporosis in Turkish multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Three hundred twenty-five patients were asked to fill out the osteoporosis awareness scale (OAS), which has a scoring range of 31-124, and the revised osteoporosis knowledge test (R-OKT), which has a score range of 0-32. Fall risk assessment for patients was conducted using the timed up-and-go test (high risk: > 30, moderate risk: 29-20, low risk: 14-19, and no risk: < 13 s). An average score of 59.42 ± 19.63(31%) on the OAS and 14.99 ± 5.39 (47%) on the R-OKT was detected. No difference was found in R-OKT scores between genders, education levels, and patients with different fall risks and between genders and education levels in OAS scores. Patients with low, medium, and high fall risks exhibited higher OAS scores compared to those without any fall risk (p = 0.006, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). No correlation was found between gender and education level with OAS and R-OKT scores and between the R-OKT scores and the risk of falls. There was a weak correlation between the OAS scores and an increased risk of falls (r = 0.269, p < 0.001). No differences between the age groups regarding OAS and R-OKT scores were observed. Turkish MS patients have inadequate knowledge and low awareness of OP compared to the healthy population. Urgent action is warranted to educate and support individuals with MS, implementing targeted interventions and awareness campaigns to improve early detection and prevent osteoporosis-related complications. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05760651.

Osteoporosis knowledge and awareness among rheumatoid arthritis patients: A cross-sectional controlled study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of knowledge and awareness of osteoporosis (OP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients and methods: The cross-sectional study included 100 RA patients (26 males, 74 females; mean age: 51±11 years; range, 28 to 67 years) who had not been diagnosed with OP and a control group of 50 healthy subjects (16 males, 34 females; mean age: 53±11 years; range, 29 to 70 years) between February 2022 and June 2022. The demographic data of age, sex, and education level of all the participants were recorded. Disease duration and the drugs used were recorded for the RA patients. The revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Test and the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale questionnaires were completed by the participants. Results: There was no significant difference determined between the RA patients and the control group in OP knowledge levels. A positive correlation was determined between education level and OP knowledge level and between disease duration and OP awareness level. RA patients with a family history of OP, those in the postmenopausal period, and those using biological disease-modifying drugs thought they were at risk of OP at a higher rate. Conclusion: While the levels of knowledge and awareness of OP were determined to be similar in the RA patients and the control group, the vast majority of RA patients did not know that they were at risk of developing OP. In addition, when the data obtained in this study are taken into consideration, there appears to be a need for health strategies such as educational programs and informing RA patients about OP.

Assessment of osteoporosis knowledge and its determinants among tuberculosis patients in tertiary care hospital Malaysia: A prospective study

ObjectiveOsteoporosis self-care knowledge is essential to encourage the patient’s contribution towards controlling the disease. Osteoporosis incidence with various infectious diseases prompts us to conduct a study on osteoporosis knowledge among Tuberculosis (TB) patients. This study aimed to assess osteoporosis-related knowledge and its influencing factors among TB patients. MethodsA prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the TB clinic of Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, and an osteoporosis knowledge test (OKT), a structured questionnaire, was used to collect data. TB patients aged 18 years and above with compromised bone health were included in the present study. Overall knowledge scores were dichotomized, calculating the mean score, descriptive statistics, and multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the influence of risk factors on knowledge scores. ResultsOf 337 patients, 129(38.28 %) had good osteoporosis knowledge and 208(61.72 %) had poor knowledge. Among them, 231(68.54 %) were males, and 106(31.45 %) were females, with a mean age of 46.5 ± 17.1 years. The mean ± SD of OKT total score was 10.5 ± 2.0. The mean ± SD of the exercise knowledge score was 5.3 ± 3.4, while the nutrition knowledge score was 5.0 ± 3.2. Male gender (OR 3.86, 95 % CI 1.98–7.53), low-income level (OR 1.92, 95 % CI 1.12–3.30), rural residents (OR 2.49, 95 % CI 1.46–4.27) and participants with no formal education (OR 4.34, 95 % CI 1.11–16.84) or ≤12 years of education (OR 3.63, 95 % CI 1.52–8.65) were significantly responsible for poor OKT score. ConclusionThe results indicated that most TB patients had a poor perception of osteoporosis. More extensive strategies should be developed to enhance the campaign of awareness programs among TB patients to improve preventive measures of osteoporosis, such as calcium intake and exercise.

Does Being Treated for Osteoporosis Mean "Awareness"?

Objective: Although there are studies evaluating Osteoporosis (OP) awareness in different populations, there is no study evaluating OP awareness in patients currently receiving medical treatment for OP in the Turkish population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of OP knowledge and associated factors in patients receiving medical treatment for OP. Methods: 301 people diagnosed with OP and using OP medication for at least one year were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, risk factors associated with OP, duration of OP drug use were questioned. The 2011 Revised OP Knowledge Test (OKT) was applied to all participants. Results: Of the 301 patients evaluated in the study, 274 (91%) were female and 27 (9%) were male. The mean age was 65.64 ±8.29. The patients had been using prescribed medication for 1 (1-20) years due to OP. Mean OKT-exercise score was 8.11±1.71, mean OKT-nutrition score was 9.04 ±1.99 and mean OKT-total score was 11.53±2.24. OKT-exercise, OKT-nutrition, and OKT-total scores were significantly positively correlated with educational status, income status, dietary calcium intake, protein intake, physical activity, and significantly negatively correlated with age. OKT-exercise sub-scores were significantly higher in those living in the city center. Conclusion: It is seen that the level of knowledge of the patients is quite low, even if they have been using drugs for OP for years. This is a warning to physicians about whether adequate information is given about behavioral methods in addition to medical treatment.

Evaluation of osteoporosis knowledge level of women who applied to the family medicine outpatient clinics of a university hospital

Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of women aged 18–45 years toward osteoporosis.&#x0D; Material and Method: A total of 368 females (average age:32.59±7.58) who applied to the family medicine outpatient clinics between 15 May 2016 and 15 August 2016 participated in this study. Participants completed the revised osteoporosis knowledge test, which contained 12 socio-demographic questions.&#x0D; Results: The average score for participants in the exercise subgroup was found to be 9.56±3.62 out of 20; the average score for the nutrition subgroup was 12.86±4.17 out of 26, and the average total score was 15.08 ± 4.82 out of 32. In general, the average score of participants was found to be 50% percent or less of the maximum scores of each subgroup of the questionnaire. This result suggests that women have inadequate knowledge about osteoporosis. Participants’ level of knowledge of osteoporosis was related to their education levels, occupational groups, and smoking status. High educational levels of participants correlated with high average scores (p

Assessment of Knowledge and Risk Factors of Osteoporosis Among the Adult and Elderly

A bone-healthy lifestyle is essential for everyone, like babies, children, teenagers, and young adults, and is particularly important for patients with osteoporosis, the most common skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. Low bone mass and skeletal fragility in adults may be due to low peak bone mass in early adulthood, excessive bone loss in later life, or both. Even though osteoporosis is a preventable disease, its high prevalence has resulted in massive morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life due to a lack of disease knowledge and awareness among the general public. Evidence based on other disorders shows that learning about the disease can help in early recognition and information about risk factors leads to prevention through lifestyle and behaviour modifications. A six-month cross-sectional study was performed with the objective of assessing the knowledge of osteoporosis, identifying the risk factors and exploring the association between sociodemographic factors and knowledge levels of osteoporosis among adults and the elderly by using the Revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Test. Participants were categorized into different socioeconomic classes by using the Kuppuswamy scale. In our study, from a total of 553 participants' responses, 217 (39.24%) were men, and 336 (60.75%) were women, with no significant variation in mean age distribution. Most participants belong to the upper-middle-class category, with a comparatively high percentage of women, followed by the lower-middle-class sort. The knowledge and understanding of osteoporosis and its contributory risk factors are poor among current study participants, which stresses the need to improve understanding among men and women through awareness programs, mainly targeting the low socioeconomic category populations.

OSTEOPOROSIS KNOWLEDGE, OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTING BEHAVİORS AND EATING HABITS AMONG HIGHLY EDUCATED YOUNG PREMENOPAUSAL TURKISH WOMEN

The purpose of this study was to determine osteoporosis knowledge, osteoporosis preventing behaviors and eating habits among highly educated young premenopausal women under the age of bone mineralization termination. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 189 academic and administrative staff of Erciyes University, aged 18-35 years. The knowledge level of osteoporosis was evaluated with the Turkish version of the Osteoporosis Knowledge Test (OKT). Osteoporosis preventing behaviors and eating habits of participants were assessed. Despite the high educational level of women, they had poor levels of knowledge about osteoporosis. The mean total score for knowledge achieved by all women, out of a possible score of 24, was 14.08±3.69 or 58.6%. The mean nutrition subscale score was 9.63±3.07 and the exercise subscale score was 9.19±2.85. The total osteoporosis knowledge score and nutrition subscale scores were higher among women who have adequate consumption (≥3 servings/day) of dairy products (p

Postmanopozal kadınlarda osteoporoz bilgi düzeyi ve ilişkili faktörler

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge of osteoporosis and related factors in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with 326 postmenopausal women. A questionnaire, including Osteoporosis Knowledge Test and questions related with sociodemographic data, variables like chronic disease history, alcohol and cigarette smoking habits, gynecological-obstetric history, was applied by researchers with face to face interview to all of the participants. Results: The mean age of the participants was 59.0±10.1 years. Mean total knowledge score was 15.4±4.9; mean osteoporosis exercise knowledge score was 9.5±3.5 and mean osteoporosis calcium knowledge score was 10.6±3.3. It was found that mean total osteoporosis knowledge score, exercise and calcium knowledge scores was significantly high in participants with high educational level, non smokers. Similarly, the mean of these three scores was found to be significantly higher in participants with a history of abortion and corticosteroid use for more than 3 months. Osteoporosis knowledge score was significantly increased with menarche and menopause age. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was thought that the knowledge of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women is not sufficient, and it will be beneficial to protect and improve public health by identifying groups that may have low level of knowledge and providing health education. Keywords: Osteoporosis, menopause, level of knowledge

Effectiveness of an osteoporosis prevention educational program in Tunisian premenopausal women working in sedentary occupations: a quasi-experimental study.

The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an osteoporosis prevention educational program on knowledge and perception of self-efficacy in adopting preventive osteoporosis behaviors in Tunisian premenopausal women working in sedentary occupations. A quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study design. Our study population was composed of female employees, aged 35-50years, of a company located in the industrial zone Sousse, situated in the center East of Tunisia. Three data collection methods were used: a questionnaire exploring socio-demographic characteristics and anthropometric measures, the Osteoporosis Knowledge Test, and the Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale. The intervention consisted of an educational program relating to the promotion of calcium intake and physical activity. We are referred to the "Health Belief Model." A survey conducted on 97 women. Only 81 subjects completed the study and are included in data analyses. The total knowledge score regarding osteoporosis improved by + 14.57 which corresponds to percentage of 109% between the pre- (T1) and post-test (T2). This improvement in knowledge was statistically significant (p < 0.001), going from 13.41 ± 3.94 at T1 to 27.98 ± 2.49 at T2. The total osteoporosis self-efficacy score has increased by + 9.56, or a percentage of 15% between the pre- and post-test. This improvement in self-efficacy was statistically significant (p = 0.001), going from 64.18 ± 20.84 at T1 to 73.73 ± 14.35 at T2. It is important to create an appropriate environment for the adoption of favorable behaviors to healthy bones and to promote health education with political commitment and collaboration with different sectors.

Osteoporosis knowledge and health beliefs among middle-aged men and women in the Southern United States.

The most common skeletal disease, osteoporosis, causes bone fragility due to decreased bone mass and bone microarchitecture destruction. The health belief model isoften applied to asymptomatic, prevention-related diseases such as osteoporosis. Steps to mitigate the insidious nature of osteoporosis, including education, motivation, and monitoring of bone mineral density, must begin at an earlier age. This study evaluates the knowledge and health beliefs surrounding osteoporosis in a population of males and females 35-50 years old to determine sex-based differences in osteoporosis knowledge and beliefs and to assess the correlation between perceptions and health motivation. Participants (81 males, 92 females) completed two questionnaires: the Osteoporosis Knowledge Test and the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale. Descriptive statistics were performed along with Pearson product-moment correlation analysis to determine the relationships between the variables. Sex-based differences were calculated utilizing independent t-tests. We discovered a statistically significant negative correlation between the barriers to exercise and health motivation (-0.434, p<0.001) and a statistically significant positive correlation between the benefits of exercise and health motivation (0.385, p<0.001). However, there was nota statistically significant correlation between health motivation with the following: the benefits of calcium, susceptibility, and the seriousness of osteoporosis. Between males and females, there was a statistically significant difference in exercise and calcium knowledge, susceptibility, and the benefits of both exercise and calcium (p<0.05). Males and females 35-50 years old perceive themselves to have a low susceptibility to osteoporosis. They do not consider osteoporosis a serious disease and have little motivation to mitigate its inception or progression. Their perceptions show that barriers to exercise impact health motivation more than the perceived benefits of exercise.

Knowledge of Osteoporosis and Its Associated Factors among Public Health Professionals in a Municipal Office in Japan.

Lifelong efforts to maintain bone health are beneficial for preventing osteoporosis, and public health professionals play an important role in that. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge of osteoporosis among public health professionals in a Japanese municipal office and explored associated factors. A questionnaire was distributed to 124 eligible public health professionals in a municipal office in S City, Japan; in total, 89 individuals who returned it were analyzed. Their knowledge of osteoporosis was assessed using the revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Test, its two subscales, and the Facts on Osteoporosis Quiz, translated into Japanese. To compare the level of knowledge between categories of selected factors, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test or the Kruskal–Wallis test was applied. The mean of correct answers ranged from 70 to 79%, depending on the scale. The knowledge level was significantly higher among registered dietitians than among public health nurses. Higher scores were significantly associated with past learning experience in off-the-job training, with having a family history of osteoporosis, and with having had a past osteoporosis test. Japanese public health professionals were likely to have moderate knowledge of osteoporosis. Several factors were implied to be associated with the knowledge level of osteoporosis.

Level of awareness and knowledge of osteoporosis among medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Background: With the increased prevalence of osteoporosis, proficiency in knowledge of osteoporosis is essential for healthcare providers to prevent and treat this disease. Therefore, it is crucial for future physicians to receive adequate education. Our study aimed to assess osteoporosis awareness and knowledge among medical students training to become physicians. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted among a sample of medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study included students from the following universities: Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Saud University, and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University during the 2019-2020 academic year. We utilized the revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Test questionnaire, which was administered online. Results: A total of 805 participants completed the online questionnaire (52% male and 48% female). The majority of the students had a grade point average of 4.50 (46.1%). Of a total score of 32 points, the mean knowledge score of the study population was 16.6 ± 4.4 points. The mean exercise score of the study population was 10.7 ± 3.1 points out of 20 points. The mean nutrition score was 14 ± 3.6 points out of 26 points. Conclusions: The level of knowledge of medical students regarding osteoporosis is poor. The need for better education of future physicians in Saudi Arabia regarding osteoporosis must be addressed. The introduction of problem-based learning strategies and community-oriented teaching programs may facilitate greater awareness of the public health impact of osteoporosis.

Education Program Using Health Belief Model on Osteoporosis Preventive Behaviors among Women Attending Primary Health Care Centers

Background:Women of all ages are a population at risk for osteoporosis; the key prevention method for osteoporosis is that of the educational programs using a behavior change model. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the education program using the health belief model on knowledge and health beliefs towards osteoporosis prevention among women attending primary health care centers. The research hypothesis:The experimental group women who involved in the education program will be expected to demonstrate higher levels of knowledge and stronger health beliefs of osteoporosis than the control group women who not involved. Design:A quasi?experimental study. Methods: The purposive sample included 200 women who were assigned into two groups.Experimental (N = 100) and control (N = 100) were selected from two family health centers. Two tools were used. 1) Women Structured Interviewing Questionnaire involving demographic characteristics and osteoporosis knowledge test (OKT). 2) Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS). Results:Post and follow-up program implementation, a significant increment was found in comparison with the control group in the mean scores of the experimental group in the OKT and OHBS (p <0.000). Conclusion:The developed osteoporosis education program using the health belief model had a remarkable and significant impact on improving women's knowledge and their health beliefs regarding osteoporosis prevention behaviors. Recommendation:Primary healthcare programs regarding osteoporosis preventive strategies using the health belief model should be implemented on a routine base in all healthcare centers.

Osteoporosis Knowledge and Health Beliefs Among Female Community Leaders in Peru.

Background: Osteoporosis presents an increasing problem globally, primarily affecting older adults and postmenopausal women. Among important modifiable risk factors for osteoporosis, physical activity and calcium intake help reduce bone mineral loss and decrease the prevalence of osteoporosis. Although osteoporosis knowledge and health beliefs are associated with adopting preventive behavior and screening rates, few studies have evaluated them in Latin American populations.Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among female community leaders in a Peruvian periurban setting. A total of 60 women participated in the study, with a mean age of 43.7 ± 8.3 years, mean body mass index of 30.4 ± 5.3 kg/m2, 88% being overweight or obese, and 58.3% having completed high school education or beyond. Participants completed translated and culturally adapted Osteoporosis Knowledge Test and Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale via semistructured interviews.Results: Most participants reported high knowledge regarding osteoporosis, perceived benefits to exercise and calcium intake, and health motivation. The level of osteoporosis knowledge was highly associated with the level of education, and we found a trend for the association between level of knowledge and perceived benefits of exercise and barriers to calcium intake among participants.Conclusions: Female community leaders with high health motivation and community engagement can contribute enormously to osteoporosis prevention programs in local communities in the future.

Research on the intervention of Internet+ platform on the whole bone health management of aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer patients

Objective To explore the influence of nursing intervention on bone health of breast cancer patients in aromatase inhibitors (AIs) treatment. Methods Totally 120 breast cancer patients receiving AIs treatment were randomly divided into the observation group (60 cases) and the control group (60 cases), and bone mineral density was measured. After that, the control group was routinely instructed to take calcium supplements, given health lectures, and real-time management. The observation group were given whole-process bone health management intervention based on Internet+ on the basis of routine nursing. After 1 year, osteoporosis knowledge questionnaire and bone mineral density test were conducted in the two groups. Results Score of Osteoporosis Knowledge Test of observation group was 21.38±3.29, and 12.54±5.03 of control group, comparing the two groups was statistically significant (t=10.27, P 0.05); after intervention the bone mineral density of observation group was (0.951±0.108) g/cm2, and (0.854±0.100) g/cm2 of control group, the comparison between the two groups was statistically significant (t=5.937, P<0.05). After intervention, the incidence of osteoporosis in the observation group was 21.67% (13/60), which was significantly higher than 35.00% (21/60) in the control group (χ2=4.279, P<0.05). Conclusion Whole-course nursing intervention can promote bone health of AIs patients with breast cancer. Key words: Breast neoplasm; Aromatase inhibitors treatment; Bone health; Internet+ platform; Intervention

Psychometric Properties of the Revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Test in Iranian Adolescent

Background: Osteoporosis knowledge test is a comprehensive questionnaire that evaluates risk factors, nutrition and exercise recommendations, as well as general subjects such as bone evolution, diagnosis, and osteoporosis treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric characteristics of the revised version of osteoporosis knowledge test (OKT) in Iranian adolescent population. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional methodological study that studied 330 high school students. Sampling was conducted in public and private schools in Saveh, Iran. Schools and students in each school were randomly selected.The translation validity was examined using Forward and Backward translation. Content validity was examined in two qualitative (assessment of experts’ opinions) and quantitative (using the content validity ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index [CVI]) parts. Face validity was determined on 30 high school students. The generalized factor analysis (GFA) was used to evaluate the construct validity of the instrument. The reliability was determined in terms of reproducibility via intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) by test–retest and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) on 20 participants. Results: Content validity indices, CVI and CVR, for OKT were 0.97 and 0.99, respectively. Reliability was confirmed in two dimensions of intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.69), and internal consistency (α = 0.81). Construct validity was confirmed using the generalized factor analysis. Conclusion: Findings support the validity and reliability of osteoporosis knowledge test. Therefore, it is recommended that the instrument can be used in both clinical practice and research in Iranian adolescent population.

Low knowledge of osteoporosis and its risk factors in urban Indian adults from Pune city, India.

To assess knowledge of osteoporosis and its risk factors and to explore associations between knowledge and various sociodemographic factors in Indian adults. Cross-sectional study. The Revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Test (OKT) was used to assess knowledge of osteoporosis. Four scores (OKT-total, range 0-32; OKT-exercise, range 0-20; OKT-nutrition, range 0-26; OKT-risk factors, range 0-14) were generated by giving 1 point to every correct answer and 0 points for incorrect or 'not known' answers. Tertiary-care hospital in Pune city, India.ParticipantsAdults aged 40-75 years (n 477; 234 males) enrolled through voluntary routine health checks and health camps. Mean age of the study population was 54·6 (sd 9·5) years. Half the participants were aware of osteoporosis and could correctly define it. Women showed significantly higher median OKT-total and OKT-nutrition scores than men (P0·1). Understanding about osteoporosis and its risk factors is low in the present cohort of Indian men and women. There is need to create awareness programmes aimed at both men and women especially targeting those with lower education, lower socio-economic status and no previous exposure to osteoporosis.

Effect of teach-back on the cognition of osteoporosis in diabetic patients

Objective To explore the effect of teach-back on the health education of osteoporosis knowledge in diabetic patients. Methods A total of 152 cases of diabetic patients hospitalized in endocrinology department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University were recruited. The study subjects were divided into control group and experimental group according to the admission date, 76 cases in each group respectively. Intervention was conducted using a unified set of publicity materials and slides of osteoporosis knowledge. The routine health education was applied in the control group, and the experimental group was carried out the teach-back health education. The effect of health education was evaluated by the Osteoporosis Knowledge Test (OKT) before intervention, 1 day after intervention, and 3 months after intervention. Results Before intervention, the OKT score of two groups were not statistically different (t=0.071, P=0.943). The OKT score of the control group was (19.21±3.91) points for 1 day after intervention and (16.95±4.14) points for 3 months after intervention. The OKT score of the experimental group was (21.61±2.59) points for 1 day after intervention and (20.54±3.09) points for 3 months after intervention. After intervention, the OKT score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group, and the results were statistically different (t=4.455, 6.057, P<0.01). Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that there were significant differences in OKT score between the two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion Teach-back health education is more beneficial for diabetic patients to understand and remember the knowledge of osteoporosis and is worth further research and application. Key words: Diabetes mellitus; Health education; Osteoporosis; Teach-back

Self-efficacy of osteoporosis preventive behaviors and its predictors in Iranian adolescents.

Almost all the bone mass in females is accumulated during adolescence and especially in the years immediately following menstruation. Self-efficacy plays an important role in moderating the relationship between knowledge and behavior. This study aimed to determine the self-efficacy of osteoporosis preventive behaviors and its predictors in female high school students. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 330 female high school students in Saveh, Iran during 2016-2017. A two-stage cluster sampling method was used to select the participants. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Osteoporosis Knowledge Test (OKT) and the Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale (OSES). A general linear model was used to determine the self-efficacy predictors of osteoporosis preventive behaviors. The mean [standard deviation (SD)] of the total OKT score was 11.08 (4.08) of attainable range from 0 to 32. The mean (SD) of the total OSES score was 121.97 (37.36) of attainable range from 0 to 200. The mean (SD) of the exercise and calcium subscales of OSES were 58.39 (22.56) and 63.57 (21.02), respectively. There were significant relationships between the total OKT score with the total OSES score (r = 0.16, p = 0.003) and its subscales, including exercise (r = 0.16, p = 0.002) and calcium (r = 0.11, p = 0.03) scores. According to the adjusted general linear model, the variables of economic status, educational level and osteoporosis knowledge were predictors of the self-efficacy in the studied students. Findings suggested that most of the students had moderate levels of knowledge and self-efficacy regarding osteoporosis preventive behaviors; therefore, improving the knowledge and self-efficacy of this group can play a significant role in promoting their health.

Feasibility of vitamin D supplementation interventions to mitigate HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis-related bone mineral density loss: a cross-sectional survey.

BackgroundDaily tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) causes subclinical decreases in bone mineral density (BMD). We surveyed PrEP users to assess feasibility for a clinical trial of vitamin D supplementation to mitigate TDF-induced BMD loss.MethodsWe recruited participants using or starting PrEP in Toronto and Vancouver. The primary objective was to assess the acceptability of daily or weekly vitamin D supplementation. We also assessed the acceptability of calcium supplementation, existing use of non-pharmacological bone health interventions, prevalence of osteoporosis risk factors, and bone health knowledge (Osteoporosis Knowledge Test, OKT).ResultsOf 161 participants, 72.1% were current PrEP users, 18.0% were starting PrEP, and 9.9% did not indicate their PrEP status. All identified as males, 88.8% as gays, and 67.1% as Whites. Median (IQR) age was 32.0 (29.0, 40.0) years, and 62.1% reported family income $$60,000/year. Among those not already using the interventions, willingness to supplement with daily vitamin D, weekly vitamin D, or daily calcium was very high at 90.9%, 96.4%, and 93.0 %, respectively. Only 31.0% reported adequate dietary calcium intake, while 42.9% reported $1 osteoporosis risk factor (most commonly, alcohol and smoking). Overall bone health knowledge was low, as median (IQR) OKT score was 16/32. In post hoc comparisons, current PrEP users may have been more likely than new PrEP users to engage in bone loading exercise (Bone-specific Physical Activity Questionnaire score=12.5 vs 3.6, P=0.001) and have greater bone health knowledge (OKT=17 vs 14, P=0.08), but they had similar levels of current vitamin D supplementation (37.4% vs 21.4%, P=0.11), calcium supplementation (11.2% vs 13.8%, P=0.70), and adequate dietary calcium intake (32.7% vs 25.0%, P=0.43).DiscussionThe high acceptability of vitamin D and calcium supplementation in this cohort suggests that enrollment into a clinical trial of such interventions to mitigate PrEP-induced BMD loss is feasible.