@article{3138127,
    title = "The knowledge of osteoporosis risk factors in a Greek female population",
    author = "Alexandraki, Krystallenia I. and Syriou, Vassiliki and Ziakas, and Panayiotis D. and Apostolopoulos, Nikolaos V. and Alexandrakis, Antonios and I. and Piperi, Christina and Kavoulaki, Ekaterini and Myriokefalitakis, and Ioannis and Korres, Georgios and Diamanti-Kandarakis, Evanthia",
    journal = "Maturitas",
    year = "2008",
    volume = "59",
    number = "1",
    pages = "38-45",
    publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",
    issn = "0378-5122",
    doi = "10.1016/j.maturitas.2007.10.008",
    keywords = "osteoporosis; osteoporosis risk factors; osteoporosis risk factors
knowledge; health education; health policy makers; osteoporosis
prevention",
    abstract = "Objectives: The social and economic burden of osteoporosis is important
since it concerns a continuously aging population, while the disease is
silent until the emergence of fractures. Aim of the study was to assess
female population knowledge about osteoporosis risk factors and to
identify the risk factors of the studied population.
Methods: A sample of 99 (aged: 61.59 +/- 9.61 years) women under
treatment for osteoporosis or osteopenia answered the questionnaire
provided by their pharmacists and were included in the study’s analysis.
Various parameters on osteoporosis awareness and risk factor knowledge
of the population sample studied were analyzed.
Results: It was revealed that 96% of the participants knew osteoporosis
definition and sources of this knowledge were one or More of the
following: doctors (86.3%), mass media (20%) and friends or relatives
(13.7%). It was found that the older age was associated with less
knowledge (OR = 0.93, CI: 0.88-0.97 p = 0.004), and higher education
with increased knowledge (OR 1.68, CI: 1.10-2.55 p = 0.014) about
osteoporosis. 56.4% of the participants were aware of at least one
osteoporosis risk factor. In multivariate analysis, it was revealed that
the participants who referred increased milk products consumption in
childhood (OR = 3.72, CI: 1.34-10.36 p = 0.012) and current performance
of physical activity (OR = 13.06, CI: 3.22-53.05 p < 0.001) were more
likely to be informed about osteoporosis risk factors; age >61 years was
associated with decreased knowledge of risk factors (OR = 0.27, CI:
0.09-0.82 p = 0.018).
Conclusions: This study implies that a higher degree of participant’s
health education may result in the avoidance of osteoporosis risk
factors. Increasing knowledge of osteoporosis should be a priority for
future intervention programs in order to promote specific behavioural
strategies for osteoporosis prevention. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
All rights reserved."
}