One type A service with a valid control group showed a significant decrease in re-fractures .
Types A and B services were cost-effective , although definition of cost-effectiveness varied between studies .
Fully coordinated , intensive models of care for secondary fracture prevention are more effective in improving patient outcomes than approaches involving alerts and /or education only
Most people presenting with incident osteoporotic fractures are neither assessed nor treated for osteoporosis to reduce their risk of further fractures , despite the availability of effective treatments .
We evaluated the effectiveness of published models of care for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures .
A multimodal intervention to improve fragility fracture management in patients presenting to emergency departments.
OBJECTIVE To implement and evaluate a multimodal intervention to improve osteoporosis treatment in patients with a fragility fracture . DESIGN , SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Strategies to improve the management of patients discharged from an emergency department after presentation with fragility fracture were implemented prospect ively in a large tertiary public hospital . Patients were surveyed by post to assess their awareness of osteoporosis and of the need for treatment . General practitioners and hospital clinicians completed an online question naire about their attitudes to osteoporosis and its management . A simplified consensus guideline was developed for local use . Our study was conducted between 1 October 2007 and 31 October 2008 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rates of referral of patients for osteoporosis review ; rates of investigation and treatment . RESULTS Although most GPs ( 259/306 [ 85 % ] ) accepted that it was their responsibility to assess and treat their patients and inform them of their osteoporosis risk , only 35/87 patients ( 40 % ) indicated awareness of their risk . After implementation of our project , the rate of bone mineral densitometry investigations improved from 6/200 ( 3 % ) to 39/87 ( 45 % ) ( P < 0.05 ) . The number of patients receiving calcium and vitamin D supplementation  increased from 24/200 ( 12 % ) ( for both supplements ) to 29/87 ( 33 % ) and 32/87 ( 37 % ) , respectively ( P < 0.05 ) . Initiation of specific treatments increased from 12/200 ( 6 % ) to 26/87 ( 30 % ) ( P < 0.05 ) . Referral of eligible patients to the Fragile Bone Clinic for osteoporosis review improved from 20/500 ( 4 % ) to 51/194 ( 26 % ) . After being contacted by a fracture liaison nurse , 84 % of these patients presented for osteoporosis review in the clinic . CONCLUSIONS A major key to improving osteoporosis management is to actively identify all patients at risk and proactively engage and encourage them to seek assessment and management . A multimodal strategy involving a dedicated fracture liaison nurse may offer the greatest potential for improving education and patient follow-up and treatment
One type A service with a valid control group showed a significant decrease in re-fractures .
Types A and B services were cost-effective , although definition of cost-effectiveness varied between studies .
Fully coordinated , intensive models of care for secondary fracture prevention are more effective in improving patient outcomes than approaches involving alerts and /or education only
Most people presenting with incident osteoporotic fractures are neither assessed nor treated for osteoporosis to reduce their risk of further fractures , despite the availability of effective treatments .
We evaluated the effectiveness of published models of care for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures .