Knowledge and Awareness of Osteoporosis among Saudi Physicians and Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

AIM:We aimed to evaluate the awareness and knowledge of osteoporosis in a sample of 141 health professionals.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A group of 141 health professionals (medical, surgical, primary health care and nursing departments) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study in the period from August 2017 to November 2017. The participants completed a questionnaire composed of 19 questions about osteoporosis which covering the main domains of knowledge on osteoporosis. Each correct answer carried 1 point whereas incorrect or ‘don’t know’ carried 0 points. This gave a total score range of 0-19. A cut-off level of < 10 points was considered as poor knowledge while ≥ 10 was regarded as good knowledge.RESULTS:Out of 141 respondents, 78 were females, 63 males, mean age of the participants was 38.17 ± 9.6 years, less than 40 years (n = 89), more than 40 years (n = 52). Nurses (n = 54), medical (n = 29), surgical (n = 35), primary health care (n = 23). Most of the study group with experience of fewer than 10 years (n = 66), 127 (90.1%) had good knowledge and 14 (9.9%) had poor knowledge p-value < 0.01.CONCLUSION:Our study revealed that Saudi health professionals have a good of knowledge about osteoporosis and no significant difference in osteoporosis knowledge between the health professional subgroups.

Practice of Family Physicians in the Management of Osteoporosis Among Older Female Patients at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…With respect to osteoporosis severity, according to the WHO classification, any BMD of T-score < −2.5 with a fragility fracture is considered severe osteoporosis [ 3 ]. In the current study, we reported 28 patients (13.5%) with fragility fractures.…”

“…Osteoporosis is one of the significant global health concerns with 200 million cases reported worldwide [ 2 ]. After heart disease, osteoporosis is considered the most important health issue in developed countries [ 3 ] associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality with marked social and financial impact [ 4 ].…”

Osteoporosis Awareness in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review of Cross-Sectional Studies

“…More than two-thirds of the study participants believed that they would have osteoporosis later on in their lifetime. Among healthcare workers, a study by Alghamdi et al (23) showed that most healthcare workers in their investigation were assessed to have high and adequate knowledge scores of osteoporosis. Among female medical students in the Al-Ahsa region, Utkarsh et al (41)reported that only 2.3% of the study population had good knowledge scores, and 32.2% and 65.15 had poor and satisfactory levels of knowledge of osteoporosis, respectively, and therefore, the level of knowledge was considered low in this study when compared to international investigations.…”

Osteoporosis-related knowledge among postmenopausal women attending primary health care services

“…5 Slične studije u svetu su, za razliku od naših prilika, veoma brojne i uključile su raznovrsne subpopulacije stanovništva kao što su adolescenti i osobe mladjeg uzrasta, žene i muškarce srednje životne dobi kao i zdravstvene profesionalce -lekare i medicinske sestre. [6][7][8][9] Zato je cilj ove studije bio da korišćenjem validnog instrumenta procene kod žena u postmenopauzi ustanovi stepen znanja o značaju, merama prevencije i terapiji osteporoze u našoj sredini. Imajući u vidu oskudnost podataka iz domaćih istraživanja, očekuje se da će rezultati biti od koristi radi pouzdanijeg planiranja odgovarajućih mera u oblasti preventivne zdravstvene zaštite.…”