Assessment of the level of knowledge about osteoporosis among the Moscow region population
AbstractThe aim of the research was the study of the awareness of the broad masses of the Moscow region population about the importance, clinical presentation and prevention of osteoporosis (OP) and fractures.
Materials and methods: a questionnaire survey of a random sample of 2024 (1720 women and 304 men) respondents without a verified OP diagnosis aged 20–93 years with median 54,0 years [43,0; 64,0]. Work is executed in the form of the studies of the transversal type in the sample of the adult population of Moscow Region. Collecting data was planned by questionnaire survey, which was conducted at the municipal medical institutions of 16 districts and 11 cities and municipalities of Moscow Region. The questionnaire included 10 points with answers «Yes» or «No» on General issues, OP prevention and diagnosis, which were duplicated by questions that needed answers in a free form, and was interpreted in points.
Results. The obtained results showed that the respondents had the General level of knowledge on the OP – median 3 [1.6] points (out of 10 points). The high level of knowledge was recorded on General concepts about OP – median 2 [0, 3], to a less extent on methods of prevention – median – 1 [1, 2] and practically absent on the early diagnosis – median 0,0 [0, 1]. In general, respondents median total of Level of Knowledge (LK) (i. e. the total number of «Yes» answers to all 10 questions of the test) was low, with a median of LK interviewed women was 4,0 positive answers [1,0;6.0] out of possible 10 in the test and was considerably higher than that of men whose median overall level of knowledge was only 2,0 positive answers [0,0; 4,0] out of 10 possible. Thus, among the respondents of Moscow region women’s awareness on the OP was higher than in men’s, speaking of the questionnaire as a whole, as well as of all 10 items separately (p<0,001 criterion Mann–Whitney). Respondents were most informed about which food is most rich in calcium (knew 78%), and what the OP is (58%), the least about the amount of calcium needed by women in menopause (knew only 10% of women), and bone densitometry (knew only 11% of respondents) (table).
When conducting Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance there was found a significant non-monotone (with the peak in the age group of 40–59 years) dependence of LKOP on age: H (6,N=2013) =120,57, p<0,0001). The lowest of LKOP was identified at age 80 and older, the median number of positive answers in the test was 1,0 [0,0, 3,0], and also in the age of 70–79 years the median 2,0 [1,0; 5,0] and under 30 years of age the median 2,0 [1,0; 4,0], and the highest in the age of 40–49 years – median 4,0 [1,0; 7,0] and 50–59 years – median 4,0 [2,0; 7,0]. LKOP was significantly affected by the level of education. This is evidenced by a significant dependence of the general LKOP on the level of education – the ratio of gamma correlation γ=0,039 (Z=–15,7), p<0,000001. The highest awareness of the problem the OP was observed in persons with higher education – the median of affirmative answers being 5,0 [2,0; 7,0], somewhat lower – that of the respondents with special secondary education – 4,0 [1,0; 6,0] and the lowest – among the respondents who have finished high – 1,0 [0,0; 3,0] or primary school – 1,0 [0,0; 2,0]. When conducting Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance there was found a statistically significant dependence of LKOP on employment: N (4, n=1711) =45,97, p=0,0001. Best informed were working respondents of able-bodied age – median 4,0 [1,0; 7,0] as well as pensioners – median 4,0 [1,0; 6,0], unemployed middle age persons were less informed – median 3,0 points [0,0; 4,0] and pensioners – median 3,0 points [1,0; 5,0]. Students knew practically nothing about OP – median 0,0 points [0,0; 3,0].
Conclusions. It is necessary to raise the LK of the population, especially elderly people of retirement age, on prevention, early diagnostics and risk factors of OP. The revealed low LKOP indicates the need for broad implementation of educational programs for the population.
Keywords:osteoporosis, level of knowledge of the population, ssenerawa eh