Testing the effectiveness of an osteoporosis educational program for nursing students in Thailand

Osteoporosis, a health problem that is on the rise, has received considerable attention among the health care community and the public. The majority of primary prevention programs for osteoporosis have been focused on women in mid-life. A concern is that young women may not be aware of osteoporosis risk factors and therefore may not be engaging in preventive behaviors. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of an osteoporosis educational program for young women.

A sample of 100 female undergraduate students who were enrolled in the first year of a nursing program in Thailand were randomly assigned to a control group or an experimental group. Participants in the experimental group participated in a 3-hour osteoporosis educational program (OEP). At entry to and exit from the study, all participants completed the Osteoporosis Knowledge Test, the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale, and the Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale.

The experimental group had higher change scores for knowledge, health belief, and self-efficacy than the control group. The OEP increased knowledge of osteoporosis in these young women.

These findings indicate the need for further health education concerning the importance of dietary calcium and exercise on osteoporosis prevention in young women.