Assessment of osteoporosis knowledge among adult Saudi females attending the family medicine department at Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Knowledge and Awareness of Osteoporosis: A Survey of Physical Therapy Providers in Saudi Arabia

Background

Osteoporosis "OP" is classified as one of the most serious health conditions worldwide. OP increases the skeletal fracture risk by 35%, particularly at hip, spine, and wrist joints. Healthcare professionals should be aware of OP clinical signs and have good knowledge while managing all patients.

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the current level of osteoporosis knowledge and awareness among physical therapy providers in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

One hundred and sixty-eight physical therapy providers participated in this cross-sectional electronic survey from February to July of 2021. The participants completed the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool questionnaire (OKAT). Descriptive analysis was utilized to assess the current level of osteoporosis knowledge among physical therapy providers.

Results

Among the 168 participants, 55% (n = 92) were over 31 years old and 45% (n = 76) were 30 years old or under. The majority of participants 37% (n = 62) had more than 10 years of experience, 45% (n = 76) mainly treat orthopedic conditions, and 70% (n = 117) live in the western region. The results showed that 67.9% (n = 114) of participants had good knowledge about osteoporosis, while 19.6% (n = 33) had poor knowledge, and only 12.5% (n = 21) had excellent knowledge.

Conclusion

Physical therapy providers in Saudi Arabia have a good knowledge of osteoporosis. The overall OP preventive measure knowledge questions were poor. It is crucial for physical therapy providers to act appropriately to prevent falls and mitigate any potential risks.

Awareness About Osteoporosis Among the General Population Based on the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT): A Cross-Sectional Study in the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE

Osteoporosis is a progressive systemic skeletal disease characterized by increasing susceptibility to fractures. The current study was conducted to assess the awareness about osteoporosis among the general population in the Northern Border region of Saudi Arabia to improve awareness and proper planning for public awareness about osteoporosis.

METHODS

The study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey study, based on the online distribution of the Arabic-translated Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT). The questionnaire questions cover the demographic characteristics of the participants, as well as symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and knowledge of treatment centers for osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS

395 participants were enrolled in the study after their informed consenting. After scoring all correct answers for each participant, the mean score of all participants' answers was 12.5±3.4 (range 0-19). Participants with poor knowledge (0-7 scores), moderate knowledge (8-13 scores), and good knowledge (13-20 scores) represent 61 (15.4%), 213 (53.9%), and 121 (30.6%), respectively. The mean percentage of right answers to all the questions is 44.1%. The highest awareness level was shown in the area of osteoporosis symptoms and risk of fractures, while the lowest was recorded in the questions covering the risk factors. Ages, genders, jobs, and levels of education significantly affected the participants' levels of awareness.

CONCLUSION

The public awareness among the population in the Northern Border region about osteoporosis is less than satisfactory. More awareness activities targeting the risky groups should be planned especially in the area of risk factors and preventive measures for osteoporosis.

Evaluation of Osteoporosis Perception Among Saudi Arabian Premenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study Using the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT)

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis is a major clinical problem that affects the whole population, especially women. It is a condition that is becoming more prevalent with aging. The increase in bone fragility associated with the disease can lead to fractures, even from minor trauma. Our goal is to evaluate the extent of knowledge about osteoporosis and perceptions of it among premenopausal women in Saudi Arabia.

METHOD

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among premenopausal women during the months of June and July 2021. We distributed an online questionnaire on social networking sites and applications that Saudi women use on a daily basis. We used the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) to evaluate the responses.

RESULT

A total of 661 women took part in our study; 159 of them were excluded because they had either reached the menopausal period or had already been diagnosed with the disease. The overall perception of osteoporosis is noticeably poor, as only 55% of respondents had an acceptable level of knowledge. In addition, we found a statistically significant association between education level and knowledge level (p-value = 0.044).

CONCLUSION

The findings revealed that more than half the participants scored "acceptable" in terms of their understanding of the disease, which indicates a serious awareness gap. This outcome demonstrates the necessity of increasing community awareness about osteoporosis to reduce potential harm and the financial burden of healthcare.

Knowledge and understanding risk factors and preventive measures for osteoporosis in women: results of a survey in 502 women with and without a migration background

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is a disease of the skeletal system associated with loss of bone mass and an increased risk of fractures affecting women more often than men. Identification of the knowledge about osteoporosis and its preventive methods is the backbone of any awareness program. This study investigates the knowledge with a special focus on women with and without a migration background.

METHODS

Data from systematic patient interviews based on a questionnaire were collected at three different sites in Berlin between February and June 2021. The survey included questions assessing migrant background, demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits including physical exercise and smoking, prevention by vitamin D intake and bone densitometry, and information on personal and family medical history. According to the responses, a scale was created to assess the level of knowledge of preventive osteoporosis measures. The ethic committee of the Charité, Medical faculty has approved this study. SPSS (version 24.0) was used for the statistical analyses.

RESULTS

The survey of 502 female patients revealed that 25% had low and 34% no previous knowledge of osteoporosis. Older age and a better education level correlate with a higher knowledge. Patients with gynecologic cancer are less well informed. There is a significant difference in vitamin D intake between migrant and non-migrant women (57% vs. 49%). There were no significant differences regarding the use of bone densitometry.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of osteoporosis and the possibility of a bone densitometry as well as the implementation of preventive measures is low among women. Therefore, informing patients better should be a priority, with particular attention on the risks and needs of women with a migration background. Specific programs for women with and without migration background should be developed to increase the awareness of osteoporosis.