Health beliefs and attitudes toward the prevention of osteoporosis in older women

Objective: A pilot study to determine health belief factors associated with osteoporosis prevention behaviors in peri- and postmenopausal women. Design: We administered a survey to a convenience sample of 60 women aged 4 0-95 years old in an urban family practice center and an associated retirem ent community. The self-reported questionnaire addressed demographics, oste oporosis risk factors, current preventive behaviors for osteoporosis, and h ealth beliefs. Results: The majority of women (89%) believed that osteoporosis is a seriou s condition, but only 29% perceived a personal susceptibility. Women were l ess concerned about osteoporosis when compared with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurologic disorders. Only 40% of women were taking active mea sures to prevent osteoporosis. There was no significant relationship betwee n active osteoporosis prevention behaviors and five health belief factors ( motivation, barrier, active participant in health care, frustration, and be nefit) (p greater than or equal to 0.43). However, active behaviors to prev ent osteoporosis were found to correlate with the single item "I am worried about developing osteoporosis" (p = 0.03). Most women surveyed would be wi lling to exercise and take calcium and a multivitamin to prevent osteoporos is. Conclusion: Few women are taking active measures to prevent osteoporosis de spite their belief that it is a serious condition. Our data suggest that mo st women do not perceive a personal susceptibility to the disease. Only wom en who reported actively worrying about developing osteoporosis were more l ikely to be engaged in significant osteoporosis preventive behaviors.