Levels of Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices Regarding Osteoporosis and the Associations with Bone Mineral Density among Populations More Than 40 Years Old in Malaysia

Chin Yi Chan, Shaanthana Subramaniam, Kok-Yong Chin, Soelaiman Ima-Nirwana, Norliza Muhammad, Ahmad Fairus, Pei Yuen Ng, Nor Aini Jamil, Noorazah Abd Aziz and Norazlina Mohamed
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Chin Yi Chan: Department of Pharmacology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia
Shaanthana Subramaniam: Department of Pharmacology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia
Kok-Yong Chin: Department of Pharmacology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia
Soelaiman Ima-Nirwana: Department of Pharmacology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia
Norliza Muhammad: Department of Pharmacology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia
Ahmad Fairus: Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia
Pei Yuen Ng: Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Campus, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Nor Aini Jamil: Faculty of Health Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Campus, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Noorazah Abd Aziz: Department of Family Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia
Norazlina Mohamed: Department of Pharmacology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras 56000, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-22

Abstract: Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder commonly found among the elderly, in which the bones become weak, brittle, and more susceptible to fracture. Adequate knowledge and positive attitude towards the disease and osteoprotective activities may prevent osteoporosis, but comprehensive studies to verify this hypothesis are limited in Malaysia. This study aims to bridge the research gap by determining the levels of knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding osteoporosis and their associations with bone mineral density (BMD) among men and women ≥ 40 years in Klang Valley, Malaysia. In this cross-sectional study, 786 Malaysians (382 men, 404 women) completed a questionnaire on knowledge, beliefs, and osteoprotective practices, and underwent BMD scan using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device. The current study found moderate levels of knowledge and beliefs regarding osteoporosis but poor osteoprotective practices. Osteoporosis knowledge, beliefs, and practices were significantly different based on subjects’ demographic characteristics ( p < 0.05). Osteoporosis knowledge and beliefs were correlated significantly with osteoprotective practices ( p < 0.05). Bone health status of the subjects was associated positively with calcium supplement intake, and negatively with exercise barriers and smoking status of the subjects ( p < 0.05). However, no significant correlation was noted between osteoporosis knowledge and bone health ( p > 0.05). Conclusively, despite some correlations between individual components, the detachment between bone health knowledge and beliefs, and osteoprotective practices among Malaysians is apparent. Integrating all three components into a comprehensive osteoporosis prevention program is warranted.

Keywords: knowledge; awareness; attitude; perception; osteoprotective practices; exercise; calcium supplement; bone mineral density; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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