title: Accident or osteoporosis?: Survey of community follow-up after low-trauma fracture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the postfracture osteoporosis management of at-risk patients presenting with low-trauma fracture in a suburban community hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital emergency department serving a retirement community in White Rock and South Surrey, BC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men and women older than 40 years of age who presented with low-trauma fracture between October 1, 2004, and April 30, 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of bone mineral density testing, osteoporosis medication prescriptions, referrals to fall prevention programs, and calcium and vitamin D supplementation within 6 months of the index fracture, as well as patient perceptions of future risk of fracture and sources of osteoporosis information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 181 people met the eligibility criteria and 161 were contacted; 84 (52%) people responded, of whom 53 were interviewed. At the time of their index fractures, 79% (42 of 53) of patients surveyed were not taking osteoporosis medication. After the index fracture, 30% (16 of 53) received new bone mineral density testing, and 8% (4 of 53) were starting courses of new osteoporosis medication. Sixty-eight percent (36 of 53) of all patients were taking calcium supplements and 50% (26 of 53) were taking vitamin D supplements. Eight percent (4 of 53) of patients were referred to a fall prevention program and 9% (5 of 53) were prescribed hip protectors; 19% (10 of 53) of patients thought they were at risk of having another fracture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Osteoporosis management of patients after low-trauma fracture in this community was suboptimal; the role of the media, family and friends, and allied health professionals to prevent fractures in at-risk individuals needs to be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Fraser Health Authority, White Rock, BC, Canada. sonia.singh@fraserhealth.ca
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Karim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D