Effectiveness of educational intervention on undermanagement of osteoporosis in fragility fractures.
OBJECTIVE
Fragility fractures are characterized by a low energy trauma and should be considered as potentially osteoporosis-related fractures. This study aimed to determine whether the orthopedic surgeons' awareness could increase the osteoporosis management rate in patients with fragility fractures.


METHODS
This study was undertaken in three phases: evaluation of existing practice patterns, educational intervention and evaluation of the effect of the training. During the study period, orthopedic surgeons who worked at academic hospitals attended five educational sessions and were provided with posters and brochures. Patients were interviewed at sixth and twelfth months after discharge using an evaluation questionnaire regarding their perceptions of the barriers to osteoporosis treatment.


RESULTS
Seventy-two orthopedic surgeons volunteered to participate in the study between June 2008 and December 2011. The patients were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Rate of calcium and vitamin D prescriptions increased from 10 to 91 %. The rate of bisphosphonate administration reached to 73 %. The number of follow-up evaluations did not differ significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
The detection and medication rates for osteoporosis in patients with fragility fractures increased more than tenfold after the intervention program.
Students' Scientific Research Center, Exceptional Talent Development Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. aghamirsalim@gmail.com
Mohamadreza
M
Aghamirsalim
Saeed Reza
SR
Mehrpour
Reza Shahriar
RS
Kamrani
Reza
R
Sorbi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011364:Professional Practice; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium