Knowledge of osteoporosis in a Swedish municipality--a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
As a part of the Vadstena Osteoporosis Prevention Project, the knowledge of osteoporosis was examined before the intervention program started, after 5 and 10 years.


METHODS
At baseline (in 1989) 15% of the population in two Swedish municipalities was randomly invited to the study. The participants in the study group were invited for examination by forearm bone densitometry and a questionnaire concerning lifestyle and risk factors for osteoporosis and also knowledge of osteoporosis, while the subjects in the control group were examined only by questionnaire. Follow-ups were made in 1994 and in 1999. Meanwhile education about osteoporosis was given to the study group, to the public, and to various professionals in the study community.


RESULTS
There was a difference in the level of knowledge between the groups prior to the intervention. The rate of increment did not differ significantly between the groups for the study period. Previous participants had 0.58 higher score than new participants in the study group in 1994 (P = 0.031) and 0.76 higher score in 1999 (P < 0.001) regarding the total number of correct answers. The women in the study group had 0.63 higher score than the men in 1994 (P = 0.016) and 1.03 higher score in 1999 (P < 0.001) regarding the total number of correct answers.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant effect of a general intervention program concerning the knowledge of osteoporosis in participants in the intervention area compared to the control area.
Waller
John
J
Vadstena Primary Health Care Center, Jungfruvägen 5, SE-592 32, Vadstena, Sweden. john.waller@swipnet.se; john.waller@lio.se
Eriksson
Olle
O
Foldevi
Mats
M
Kronhed
Ann-Charlotte Grahn
AC
Larsson
Lasse
L
Löfman
Owe
O
Toss
Göran
G
Möller
Margareta
M
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden