Suboptimal bone protection in geriatric inpatients and effect of a simple educational and mnemonic strategy

Osteoporosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated in Australia, especially in hospitalised patients. We aimed to improve bone health management in geriatric inpatients by introducing a mnemonic into discharge summaries.

A retrospective review of patients discharged from our geriatric unit was performed before and after intervention. Outcomes assessed were as follows: vitamin D measurement, bone protection medication and communication to general practitioners.

Sixty-one patients were included in the initial audit, and 82 in the reaudit. There was an increase in measurement of vitamin D levels (86.6% vs 57.4%, P < 0.001) and in the communication to the general practitioner (84.7% vs 28.6%, P < 0.001). Patients in the reaudit were more likely to have vitamin D initiated or increased (43.0% vs 7.4%, P = 0.001) and to have antiresorptive therapy commenced (9.8% vs 0%, P = 0.01).

The introduction of simple education and mnemonic strategy has shown significant improvement in the assessment and management of bone health in at-risk patients.