Knowledge, attitude, and misconceptions towards osteoporosis among patients with musculoskeletal health problems

Purpose/Introduction:To determine the level of awareness and knowledge about osteoporosis among a sample of patients with musculoskeletal diseases. Methods: Through a cross-sectional study on patients with musculoskeletal disorders either degenerative or inflammatory (aged 18-62 years), 1200 participants were interviewed and responded to a prepared validated questionnaire about the knowledge and attitude towards Osteoporosis (OP) and its potential complications as fragility fractures and kyphosis. Results: Seventy eight percent (936) of the studied subjects know osteoporosis (of them only 930 agreed to complete the study) while 22% did not know a disease called osteoporosis and did not complete the remaining questions. A positive effect was found for educational level, occupation, and residence on knowledge of osteoporosis (P=0.000, P=0.001, P=00.002 respectively). Among those who completed the questionnaire, the majority (72.2% and 82%)were found to have the misconceptions that OP can lead to joint deformities and bone pain which reflected that their knowledge about the disease lacks the required in-depth awareness. Conclusion: There are variable degrees of knowledge and attitudes towards patients with musculoskeletal disorders which are affected by multiple factors including educational level, occupation, residence and marital status. However, the in-depth awareness about the disease is highly limited and efforts should be done to overcome this point as a first step to prevent the disease. Summary: Awareness and knowledge about Osteoporosis (OP) and its risk factors is highly limited and efforts should be done to overcome this point as a first step to prevent the disease.