Low knowledge of osteoporosis and its risk factors in urban Indian adults from Pune city, India.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge of osteoporosis and its risk factors and to explore associations between knowledge and various sociodemographic factors in Indian adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. The Revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Test (OKT) was used to assess knowledge of osteoporosis. Four scores (OKT-total, range 0-32; OKT-exercise, range 0-20; OKT-nutrition, range 0-26; OKT-risk factors, range 0-14) were generated by giving 1 point to every correct answer and 0 points for incorrect or 'not known' answers. SETTING: Tertiary-care hospital in Pune city, India.ParticipantsAdults aged 40-75 years (n 477; 234 males) enrolled through voluntary routine health checks and health camps. RESULTS: Mean age of the study population was 54·6 (sd 9·5) years. Half the participants were aware of osteoporosis and could correctly define it. Women showed significantly higher median OKT-total and OKT-nutrition scores than men (P0·1). CONCLUSIONS: Understanding about osteoporosis and its risk factors is low in the present cohort of Indian men and women. There is need to create awareness programmes aimed at both men and women especially targeting those with lower education, lower socio-economic status and no previous exposure to osteoporosis.