Department of Pharmacology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia.
Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 17;19(10):6072. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19106072.
Background: Osteoporosis is an emerging geriatric condition with high morbidity and healthcare cost in developing nations experiencing rapid population ageing. Thus, identifying strategies to prevent osteoporosis is critical in safeguarding skeletal health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a bone health screening and education programme on knowledge, beliefs, and practice regarding osteoporosis among Malaysians aged 40 years and above. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted from April 2018 to August 2019. During the first phase of the study, 400 Malaysians (190 men, 210 women) aged ≥ 40 years were recruited in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Information on subjects’ demography, medical history, knowledge, and beliefs regarding osteoporosis, physical activity status, and dietary and lifestyle practices were obtained. Subjects also underwent body anthropometry measurement and bone mineral density scan (hip and lumbar spine) using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device. Six months after the first screening, similar investigations were carried out on the subjects. Results: During the follow-up session, 72 subjects were lost to follow up. Most of them were younger subjects with a lower awareness of healthy practices. A significant increase in knowledge, beliefs (p < 0.05), calcium supplement intake (p < 0.001), and dietary calcium intake (p = 0.036) and a reduction in coffee intake (p < 0.001) were found among subjects who attended the follow-up. In this study, the percentage of successful referrals was 41.86%. Subjects with osteoporosis were mostly prescribed alendronate plus vitamin D3 by medical doctors, and they followed the prescribed treatment accordingly. Conclusions: The bone health screening and education programmes in this study are effective in changing knowledge, beliefs, and practice regarding osteoporosis. The information is pertinent to policymakers in planning strategies to prevent osteoporosis and its associated problems among the middle-aged and elderly population in Malaysia. Nevertheless, a more comprehensive bone health education program that includes long-term monitoring and consultation is needed to halt the progression of bone loss.
骨质疏松症是一种新兴的老年疾病，在快速老龄化的发展中国家具有高发病率和医疗保健成本。因此，确定预防骨质疏松症的策略对于保护骨骼健康至关重要。本研究旨在评估骨健康筛查和教育计划对马来西亚 40 岁及以上人群骨质疏松症相关知识、信念和实践的影响。
这是一项从 2018 年 4 月至 2019 年 8 月进行的纵向研究。在研究的第一阶段，在马来西亚雪兰莪州招募了 400 名年龄≥40 岁的马来西亚人（190 名男性，210 名女性）。收集了受试者的人口统计学、病史、骨质疏松症相关知识和信念、身体活动状况以及饮食和生活方式实践等信息。受试者还使用双能 X 射线吸收仪进行了身体人体测量和骨密度扫描（髋部和腰椎）。在第一次筛查后 6 个月，对受试者进行了类似的调查。
在随访期间，有 72 名受试者失访。他们大多是年轻的受试者，对健康实践的认识较低。参加随访的受试者的知识、信念（p<0.05）、钙补充剂摄入（p<0.001）和膳食钙摄入（p=0.036）显著增加，咖啡摄入（p<0.001）减少。在本研究中，成功转诊的比例为 41.86%。大多数患有骨质疏松症的患者被医生开了阿伦膦酸钠加维生素 D3，并按照医嘱进行了相应的治疗。
本研究中的骨健康筛查和教育计划在改变骨质疏松症相关知识、信念和实践方面是有效的。这些信息对马来西亚政策制定者规划预防中年和老年人骨质疏松症及其相关问题的策略具有重要意义。然而，需要更全面的骨健康教育计划，包括长期监测和咨询，以阻止骨质流失的进展。
