title: Knowledge of osteoporosis correlated with hormone therapy use and health status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study objectives were: (a) to evaluate knowledge about osteoporosis and to identify its correlates among women > or =40 years of age attending outpatient centers; (b) to compare the level of knowledge between women already receiving treatment for osteoporosis and first-time attendees.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted with women recruited from nine outpatient centres in the Czech Republic. The women were divided into two subgroups: patients who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis (osteopenia) and who are receiving treatment for the disease (OS group); first-time attendees who have been referred for the assessment of osteoporosis (comparison group). The patient's knowledge of osteoporosis was assessed using the Osteoporosis Questionnaire (OPQ) developed by Pande et al. [Pande KC, Takats D, Kanis JA, Edwards V, Slade P, McCloskey EV. Development of a questionnaire (OPQ) to assess patient's knowledge about osteoporosis. Maturitas 2000;37:75-81].
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 474 women (median age 63 years) were studied (306 in the OS group, 168 in the comparison group). Knowledge scores based on OPQ (median) were 7 and 6 points in the OS and comparison groups, respectively. When adjusted for age, the statistics showed better knowledge patients in the OS group (P=0.019). In both the OS and comparison groups, knowledge was found to be correlated positively with education (P<0.001) and experience of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (P<0.001) and negatively with age (P<0.001). Knowledge was higher among women with better health status in the OS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge about osteoporosis among Czech women aged > or =40 years and attending outpatient centers is relatively poor. To improve it, special attention should be paid to elderly women, those who have not used HRT, poorly educated women and those treated with several drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University in Prague, Heyrovskeho 1203, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. magda.vytrisalova@faf.cuni.cz
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vytrisalova
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kubena
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vlcek
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palicka
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hala
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavelka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018153:Czech Republic; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D010045:Outpatients; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium