Concern and Risk Perception: Effects on Osteoprotective Behaviour

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect that level of concern for osteoporosis, as well as self-perceived risk of osteoporosis and fracture, has on supplementation use, seeking medical advice, bone mineral density (BMD) testing, and antiosteoporosis medication (AOM) use. Study subjects were 1,095 female Australian participants of the Global Longitudinal study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW) untreated for osteoporosis at baseline. Study outcomes from self-administered questionnaires included calcium and vitamin D supplementation, self-reported seeking of medical advice regarding osteoporosis, BMD testing, and AOM use in the last 12 months at the late assessment. Logistic regression was used in the analysis. Concern significantly increased the likelihood of seeking medical advice and, however, had no significant impact on screening or treatment. Heightened self-perceived risks of osteoporosis and fracture both significantly increased the likelihood of seeking medical advice and BMD testing while elevated self-perceived risk of fracture increased AOM use. Supplementation use was not significantly associated with concern levels and risk perception. Concern and risk perceptions to osteoporosis and fracture were significantly associated with certain bone-protective behaviours. However, the disconnect between perceived osteoporosis risk and AOM use illustrates the need to emphasize the connection between osteoporosis and fracture in future education programs.

Self-perceived Fracture Risk in the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women: Its Correlates and Relationship with Bone Microarchitecture

“…This concurs with findings from a crosssectional analysis of GLOW where women with higher SPR were more likely to report AOM use than women with lower SPR [5]. Barcenilla-Wong et al also reported that elevated self-perceived risk of fracture increases the likelihood of taking AOM prospectively [7].…”

“…Furthermore, it was previously demonstrated in GLOW that SPR of fracture does capture some aspect of fracture risk not currently measured using the conventional fracture prediction tool FRAX [5]. The perception of personal risk has been shown to modify an individual's behaviour related to their bone health [5,7]. Heightened self-perceived risks of osteoporosis and fracture significantly increases the likelihood of seeking medical advice hence, increasing the chances, in appropriate individuals, of being given a diagnosis of osteoporosis-a well known predictor of treatment initiation [7].…”

“…The perception of personal risk has been shown to modify an individual's behaviour related to their bone health [5,7]. Heightened self-perceived risks of osteoporosis and fracture significantly increases the likelihood of seeking medical advice hence, increasing the chances, in appropriate individuals, of being given a diagnosis of osteoporosis-a well known predictor of treatment initiation [7]. Moreover, heightened self-perceived risks of fracture are known to be associated with BMD testing.…”

“…Self-perception of risk of a condition is a difficult concept, as it requires an individual to compare their own health status to others. There is evidence that self-perception of risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures is underestimated in postmenopausal women worldwide [6], and that self-perceived risks of osteoporosis and fracture affect certain behaviours such as seeking medical advice, anti-osteoporosis medication use and BMD screening, which might lead to greater healthcare engagement, treatment and altered bone health [5,7]. Furthermore, findings from the GLOW cohort suggest that increased self-perceived fracture risk is strongly associated with incident fracture rate [8].…”

Trends and Disparities in Self-Reported and Measured Osteoporosis among US Adults, 2007–2014

“…Studies showed that the level of perception about the disease might modify individual behavior [21,22]. The Health Belief Model has confirmed that high perceptions provide an impetus to adopting health-protective behaviors [23]. Therefore, the perception of osteoporosis can positively impact people's lifestyles and behavior.…”