Osteoporosis knowledge and information needs in healthcare professionals caring for patients with fragility fractures

Orthop Nurs. 2007 Jan-Feb;26(1):27-35. doi: 10.1097/00006416-200701000-00009.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate osteoporosis knowledge and learning needs in healthcare professionals working with patients who have experienced or are at risk of fracture.

Setting: Multisite teaching hospital, Hamilton, Ontario.

Sample: Healthcare professionals working in the fracture clinics, orthopaedics, rehabilitation, and nuclear medicine department.

Method: Completion of an Osteoporosis Knowledge Questionnaire and questions about learning needs and preferences.

Results: The major areas of knowledge deficit in this study were with topics related to health promotion and management specific to calcium needs and medications.

Conclusions: The range of scores on the Osteoporosis Knowledge Questionnaire and the low scores on key questions suggest that there are opportunities to increase osteoporosis knowledge across a broad spectrum of healthcare providers.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / therapeutic use
  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Clinical Competence / standards
  • Educational Measurement
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Female
  • Fractures, Spontaneous / etiology*
  • Fractures, Spontaneous / therapy
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Inservice Training
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Needs Assessment*
  • Nursing Education Research
  • Ontario
  • Orthopedic Nursing / education
  • Orthopedics / education
  • Osteoporosis* / complications
  • Osteoporosis* / diagnosis
  • Osteoporosis* / therapy
  • Personnel, Hospital / education*
  • Personnel, Hospital / psychology
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Calcium, Dietary