The Comparison of Knowledge Level and Awareness of Osteoporosis Between Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Objective: Osteoporosis (OP) is an important common public health problem among postmenopausal women. It is significant to know the life styles which support the bone health in order to prevent the disease. Our aim was to compare the knowledge and awareness levels of OP in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: One hundred premenopausal women (mean age 38.12 +/- 8.07 years; range 19 to 50 years) and 100 postmenopausal women (mean age 59.05 +/- 8.55 years; range 51 to 85 years) volunteers were enrolled in this study. The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants were recorded. Osteoporosis Knowledge test (OKT), Osteoporosis Health Belief scale (OHBS), and a questionnaire including questions about OP knowledge and risk factors were assessed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the OKT and OHBS total and subgroup scores of premenopausal and postmenopausal women (except for OHBS-susceptibility subgroup) (p>0.05). In the postmenopausal women group, no statistically significant difference was found between the individuals with and without a diagnosis of the OP when the total scores of OKT and OHBS, and many subgroups were compared (p>0.05). The answers to the questions about OP knowledge were similar between the groups (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the OKT and OHBS total scores of the participants with and without an OP history in their family (p>0.05). Conclusion: The OP knowledge and awareness levels of premenopausal and postmenopausal women were found similar. Postmenopausal women diagnosed with OP have no superiority in terms of knowledge and awareness levels of OP compared to postmenopausal women who are not diagnosed with OP. Having a family history of OP does not contribute to an individual's knowledge and awareness of OP.