Abstract

“ASSESSEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE AMONG WOMEN WITH OSTEOPOROSIS”

Nimisha K. Joseph, M. Kaveri Bopanna, Neelam Singh D., Nithya Indian R. and Sheba Baby John*

ABSTRACT

Background: Osteoporosis is one of the major health concern among the large group of population worldwide. Evidence suggests that knowledge regarding disease could act as a major contributor to prevent further complications. Poor education background, low socioeconomic status leading to lack of awareness about disease, its consequences and risk factors finally results in increased incidence of fracture and poor quality of life. Methods: The data from 120 female osteoporotic patients were collected using convenient sampling technique. Patients were questioned from the pre-coded questionnaire consisting of 3 domains to evaluate their Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of osteoporosis. Results: The study indicated that patients from middle-class background had better knowledge (47%), a positive attitude (56%) and also good practice (54%) towards the disease than patients from poorer background (22% & 17% respectively). The patients with low education background (&respectively) had poorer knowledge (20%) and attitude (36%) and poor practices (19%) towards the disease than patients with average and higher education background (27%, 71% & 54%respectively) & (76%, 71% & 100% respectively). Conclusion: It is observed that the overall knowledge and attitude perspective and practices followed by women having osteoporosis was found to be low, thereby our study shows that the health care professionals have a major role in providing patient counselling to upraise the awareness about this important disease and its complications, at different levels especially primary health care center etc.

Keywords: .