Multifaceted interventions targeting high-risk patients and their primary care providers may improve the management of osteoporosis , but improvements are often clinical ly modest
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of primary care interventions to improve the detection and treatment of osteoporosis .
Effectiveness of a community-based osteoporosis education and self-management course: a wait list controlled trial
Summary Osteoporosis is an increasing burden on individuals and health re sources . The Osteoporosis Prevention and Self-Management Course ( OPSMC ) was design ed to assist individuals to prevent and manage osteoporosis ; however , it had not been evaluated in an Australian setting . This r and omised controlled trial showed that the course increased osteoporosis knowledge . Introduction and hypothesisOsteoporosis is a major and growing public health concern . An OPSMC was design ed to provide individuals with information and skills to prevent or manage osteoporosis , but its effectiveness has not previously been evaluated . This study aim ed to determine whether OPSMC attendance improved osteoporosis knowledge , self-efficacy , self-management skills or behaviour . Material s and methods Using a wait list r and omised controlled trial design , 198 people ( 92 % female ) recruited from the community and aged over 40 ( mean age = 63 ) were r and omised into control ( n = 95 ) and intervention ( n = 103 ) groups . The OPSMC consists of four weekly sessions which run for 2 h and are led by two facilitators . The primary outcome were osteoporosis knowledge , health-directed behaviour , self-monitoring and insight and self-efficacy . Results The groups were comparable at baseline . At 6-week follow-up , the intervention group showed a significant increase in osteoporosis knowledge compared with the control group ; mean change 3.5 ( p < 0.001 ) on a measure of 0–20 . The intervention group also demonstrated a larger increase in health-directed behaviour , mean change 0.16 ( p < 0.05 ) , on a measure of 0–6 . Conclusion The results indicate that the OPSMC is an effective intervention for improving underst and ing of osteoporosis and some aspects of behaviour in the short term
Multifaceted interventions targeting high-risk patients and their primary care providers may improve the management of osteoporosis , but improvements are often clinical ly modest
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of primary care interventions to improve the detection and treatment of osteoporosis .