Brief Article
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World J Orthop. Jul 18, 2013; 4(3): 139-143
Published online Jul 18, 2013. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v4.i3.139
Relationship of knowledge about osteoporosis with education level and life habits
Mohammad Reza Etemadifar, Sayed-Mohammadamin Nourian, Mahboobe Fereidan-Esfahani, Hamidreza Shemshaki, Mohsen Nourbakhsh, Abolghasem Zarezadeh
Mohammad Reza Etemadifar, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81745, Iran
Sayed-Mohammadamin Nourian, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA 95382, United States
Mahboobe Fereidan-Esfahani, Medical Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81745, Iran
Hamidreza Shemshaki, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 81465-1798, Iran
Mohsen Nourbakhsh, Medical Students’ Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81745, Iran
Abolghasem Zarezadeh, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81745, Iran
Author contributions: Shemshaki H and Etemadifar MR performed the majority of experiments; Nourbakhsh M, Shemshaki H and Nourian SM provided vital reagents and analytical tools and were also involved in editing the manuscript; Fereidan-Esfahani M and Zarezadeh A designed the study and wrote the manuscript.
Supported by The Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Correspondence to: Dr. Hamidreza Shemshaki, Research Assistant, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 81745, Iran. Hamidrezashemshaki@yahoo.com
Telephone: +98-912-2893979 Fax: +98-341-3224613
Received: October 15, 2012
Revised: March 27, 2013
Accepted: March 28, 2013
Published online: July 18, 2013
Abstract

AIM: To assess possible relationships of knowledge and related factors with educational level and osteoporosis-related life habits.

METHODS: This was a cross sectional study conducted on 268 women (≥ 35 years old) from June 2011 to August 2011. The sample collection was done in outpatient clinics in three university hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. We used a demographic questionnaire containing questions that evaluated osteoporosis-related life habits, including exercise, smoking, intake of calcium and vitamin D supplements and so on. We also used the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool to measure osteoporosis knowledge of women.

RESULTS: The mean level of knowledge about awareness of osteoporosis, its risk factors and preventive factors were 56, 55 and 22, respectively. The relationship of education level and awareness of osteoporosis, its risk factors and preventive factors was significant, with R = 0.76, R = 0.73 and R = 0.83, respectively (P < 0.001). The relationship of education level and osteoporosis-related life habits was not significant (R = 0.03 and P = 0.56). The relationship of osteoporosis-related life habits and awareness of osteoporosis and its risk factors was significant, with R = 16%, P = 0.006 and R = 16%, P = 0.008, respectively, but the relationship of osteoporosis-related life habits and preventive factors was not significant (R = 0, P = 0.99).

CONCLUSION: Iranian women with a higher education level have significantly better knowledge about osteoporosis than women with a lower educational level but they do not use this knowledge in their life.

Keywords: Osteoporosis, Knowledge, Education, Life habits, Relationship

Core tip: Osteoporosis, a serious health problem that diminishes quality of life, is a systemic skeletal disorder, characterized by reduction in bone mass, increasing bone fragility and fracture risk. Iranian women with a higher education level have significantly better knowledge about osteoporosis than women with a lower educational level but they do not use this knowledge in their life.