Knowledge and compliance from patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and expectations of patients receiving treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis, analysing the factors related to good compliance with treatment.


METHODS
A national, epidemiological, cross-sectional study collected information on personal medical history, family history, bone densitometry, and treatment and compliance of patients over 45 years who were receiving treatment for osteoporosis and provided their informed consent. The patients anonymously completed a questionnaire about their knowledge of osteoporosis and the Morisky and Green treatment compliance evaluation test.


RESULTS
Three hundred and fifteen specialists in gynaecology participated, recruiting 1179 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. The mean age was 59.9 years (standard deviation [SD] = 7.5). Only 22.6% of the patients showed an acceptable knowledge of osteoporosis (the criterion established was correct response to 80% of the questions). Treatment compliance was evaluated using a combination of Morisky-Green and Haynes-Sackett criteria. Of the patients 39.2% were classified as compliant, 74.6% of the patients were very or quite concerned about their condition and 53.3%; described their health status as excellent or good. However, 63.6% of the patients indicated that they needed more information about osteoporosis. The factors related to good compliance were the existence of one or no concomitant disease (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, P = 0.025) and the type of knowledge about their disease (acceptable knowledge: OR = 1.33, P = 0.043).


CONCLUSIONS
Correct knowledge about osteoporosis would increase the possibility of appropriate compliance with the prescribed treatment, thus reducing the risk of osteoporotic fractures.
Palacios
Santiago
S
Instituto Palacios, Madrid, Spain. ipalacios@institutopalacios.com
Sánchez-Borrego
Rafael
R
Neyro
José Luis
JL
Quereda
Francisco
F
Vázquez
Francisco
F
Pérez
Maite
M
Pérez
Montserrat
M
D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents