Osteoporosis Knowledge and Information Needs in Healthcare Professionals Caring for Patients With Fragility Fractures

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate osteoporosis knowledge and learning needs in healthcare professionals working with patients who have experienced or are at risk of fracture. SETTING: Multisite teaching hospital, Hamilton, Ontario. SAMPLE: Healthcare professionals working in the fracture clinics, orthopaedics, rehabilitation, and nuclear medicine department. METHOD: Completion of an Osteoporosis Knowledge Questionnaire and questions about learning needs and preferences. RESULTS: The major areas of knowledge deficit in this study were with topics related to health promotion and management specific to calcium needs and medications. CONCLUSIONS: The range of scores on the Osteoporosis Knowledge Questionnaire and the low scores on key questions suggest that there are opportunities to increase osteoporosis knowledge across a broad spectrum of healthcare providers.