FRAX® counseling for bone health behavior change in women 50 years of age and older.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of FRAX® (Fracture risk assessment tool) for changes in bone health risk factors and treatment decision-making.


METHODS
A convenience sample of seventeen women, 50 years and older, English-speaking, generally healthy, with the ability to perform weight-bearing exercise, presenting for a DXA scan in a Midwestern city between August 2009 and November 2009, and not already being treated for osteoporosis or osteopenia. Self-administered diet and exercise questionnaires were completed by participants, followed by individual counseling related to FRAX® absolute risk and NOF guidelines. Questionnaires were repeated at approximately three months later, along with a short survey regarding the information's impact.


CONCLUSIONS
FRAX® increased a participant's perception of future risk for osteoporosis and desire to change bone health habits. About 50% actually made changes in calcium and vitamin D consumption and weight-bearing exercise. FRAX® could not be applied to those with osteopenia of the spine only; and a variety of bone health risk factors not covered by FRAX® were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The FRAX® risk assessment tool can be useful to motivate clients to change bone health behavior. However, it has limitations in its use as a tool for whether or not to prescribe bisphosphonates.
Department of Women, Children, & Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, Peoria, IL 61604, USA. ddunni1@uic.edu
Diane L
DL
Dunniway
Barbara
B
Camune
Kathleen
K
Baldwin
James K
JK
Crane
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000517:prevention & control; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003657:Decision Making; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000517:prevention & control; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D055070:Resistance Training; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016387:Women's Health
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D