Treatment and prevention practices in postmenopausal women after bone mineral density screening at a community-based osteoporosis project.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the use of treatment and prevention practices in postmenopausal women who have received the results of an osteoporosis screening.


METHODS
Telephone survey to follow-up with women who underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning at a community-wide osteoporosis screening project. Participants categorized by their scan results as having normal bone mineral density or low bone mineral density were asked about their osteoporosis treatment and prevention practices since receiving their scan results.


RESULTS
Two hundred nineteen women were interviewed. Calcium supplement use increased significantly in both groups (P=.002). There was no significant difference in the number of women using alendronate sodium, calcitonin, and selective estrogen receptor modulators before and after screening. Both groups reported increases in exercise levels and dairy intake, but the difference was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the use of over-the-counter calcium supplements increases after osteoporosis screening. However, the use of treatments that require a physician prescription does not increase after screening regardless of the patient's bone mineral density status.
Rohr
Christine I
CI
Department of Medical Education, Synergy Medical Education Alliance, 1000 Houghton Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602-5303, USA.
Clements
John M
JM
Sarkar
Arup
A
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008403:Mass Screening; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
D002118:Calcium