Conclusions This review indicates that it is still unclear whether patient education is beneficial and whether it has a significant and clinical ly relevant impact on osteoporosis management results .
Summary This review summarizes evidence regarding the effects of patient education in osteoporosis prevention and treatment .
Method ological improvem ent of future RCTs ( e.g. with regard to r and omization and duration of follow-up ) might yield more conclusive evidence on the effects of patient education in osteoporosis Introduction This review aims to evaluate the effects of patient education on osteoporosis prevention and treatment results .
Patient education in groups increases knowledge of osteoporosis and adherence to treatment: a two-year randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE Non-adherence to pharmacological treatment in osteoporosis is a well-recognized problem . We hypothesized that a group-based educational programme would increase patients ' knowledge and level of adherence with medical treatment . METHODS A total of 300 patients ( 32 men aged 65 ± 9 years and 268 women aged 63 ± 8 years ) , recently diagnosed with osteoporosis , were r and omised to either an  osteoporosis school programme  ( four classes of 8 - 12 participants over four weeks ) or a control group .  Teaching was multidisciplinary , based on patients ' experiences and background and design ed to encourage empowerment . Patients ' knowledge about osteoporosis and adherence to treatment was assessed with self-completed question naires at baseline and after 3 , 12 , and 24 months . RESULTS There were no significant differences at baseline between the two groups with respect to knowledge score or level of adherence . At two years ' follow-up , the improvement in knowledge score was 2 [ 0 - 4 ] points ( median [ 25 - 75 percentiles ] ) in the school group and 0 [ -2 to 2 ] in controls ( p<0.001 ) and self-reported adherence to pharmacological therapy was significantly higher in the school group ( 92 % ) compared to the control group ( 80 % ) , p<0.001 . CONCLUSION The programme increased knowledge about osteoporosis and increased self-reported adherence to pharmacological treatment over a period of two years
Conclusions This review indicates that it is still unclear whether patient education is beneficial and whether it has a significant and clinical ly relevant impact on osteoporosis management results .
Summary This review summarizes evidence regarding the effects of patient education in osteoporosis prevention and treatment .
Method ological improvem ent of future RCTs ( e.g. with regard to r and omization and duration of follow-up ) might yield more conclusive evidence on the effects of patient education in osteoporosis Introduction This review aims to evaluate the effects of patient education on osteoporosis prevention and treatment results .