Osteoporosis education programs: Changing knowledge and behaviors

Osteoporosis is an age related metabolic disease that primarily affects wom en and causes bone demineralization that results in fractures. Early identi fication of risk factors for osteoporosis and development of prevention pro grams is needed to halt the increasing incidence of the disease. Public hea lth nurses (PHNs), with their emphasis on primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention with individuals and families, are in a unique position to prote ct the health of these vulnerable populations who are at risk for osteoporo sis. This article describes the implementation and program evaluation of th ree osteoporosis prevention educational programs that use three levels of i ntensity of design. Each design is based upon the learning needs of the tar geted audience. The goals of each program were to increase knowledge of ost eoporosis, increase health beliefs, and increase the frequency of osteoporo sis preventing behaviors. Theoretical aspects from adult learning and the H ealth Belief Model (HBM) were used to develop the programs. For the program evaluation, participants completed evaluation instruments before and 3 wee ks after participating in an osteoporosis health education program. Partici pants in all programs had significantly higher levels of knowledge after co mpleting the programs; however, overall, there was no change in health beli efs or behaviors. Implications of these findings are discussed.