141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

291924
Osteoporosis prevention among older women: A review of bone enhancement interventions

Monday, November 4, 2013

Lori Turner, PhD, RD , Department of Health Science, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Don Lein, PhD , Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Hannah Priest, BS, MAED , Department of Health Science, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Stuart Usdan, PhD , Department of Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Background/Purpose: Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder and major public health problem that results in disfigurement, deformity, fractures, pain, loss of independence, depression and even death. Ten million people in the US have osteoporosis; 8 million of those are women. Approximately 1.5 million osteoporotic fractures occur each year. National health objectives outline the urgent need to reduce incidences of osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the studies of osteoporosis prevention interventions. Method: PubMed was used to search using key words: osteoporosis, osteoporosis protective behaviors, osteoporosis prevention behaviors, bone mineral density, osteoporosis prevalence, risk factors, smoking, tobacco use and low bone mineral density. Analysis/Results: To prevent loss of bone in women, promotion of osteoprotective behaviors through intervention implementation is widely recommended. Education regarding risk factors was a primary strategy used in health promotion messages to increase women's awareness of risk. These interventions utilized a knowledge enhancement approach. Interventions have also included central bone density testing with feedback and education, peripheral bone scans with feedback and counseling, education classes designed based on health behavior theory, and tailored feedback based on health beliefs and behavior. Other programs used tailored messages based on computerized feedback and/or bone densitometry results. Some interventions were based on a variety of health behavior theories and/or their constructs. Many programs used a combination of strategies. Conclusions: Several interventions have been studied to help women adopt osteoprotective behaviors. Theory-based programs appear to offer promise in effectiveness regarding osteoprotective behaviors.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Define osteoporosis. List the deleterious outcomes of this disease. Discuss strategies for prevention of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Describe the benefits of theory-based interventions on enhancing osteoprotective behaviors.

Keywords: Women's Health, Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Professor of Health Science at The University of Alabama. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in food and nutrition, 2 Masters Degrees, one in Dietetics and Nutrition and one in Health Education, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Education and Health Promotion. I am a Registered Dietitian. Much of my research is focused on osteoporosis prevention and I have authored over 76 published articles.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.