Treatment and prevention practices in postmenopausal women after bone mineral density screening at a community-based osteoporosis project
Rohr, C.I.; Clements, J.M.; Sarkar, A.
Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 106(7): 396-401
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0098-6151 PMID: 16912337 Document Number: 604640
To determine the use of treatment and prevention practices in postmenopausal women who have received the results of an osteoporosis screening. Telephone survey to follow-up with women who underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning at a community-wide osteoporosis screening project. Participants categorized by their scan results as having normal bone mineral density or low bone mineral density were asked about their osteoporosis treatment and prevention practices since receiving their scan results. Two hundred nineteen women were interviewed. Calcium supplement use increased significantly in both groups (P=.002). There was no significant difference in the number of women using alendronate sodium, calcitonin, and selective estrogen receptor modulators before and after screening. Both groups reported increases in exercise levels and dairy intake, but the difference was not statistically significant. Our results indicate that the use of over-the-counter calcium supplements increases after osteoporosis screening. However, the use of treatments that require a physician prescription does not increase after screening regardless of the patient's bone mineral density status.