Effects of a health-belief-model-based osteoporosis- and fall-prevention program on women at early old age

Elderly women are at high risk of osteoporosis and falls. Lifestyle modifications and regular check-ups are strongly recommended to promote their bone health. However, elderly women tend to perform low preventive behaviors due to physiological changes associated with aging. Education facilitating healthy behaviors is essential for older women. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether a Health Belief Model (HBM)-based osteoporosis- and fall-prevention program could improve osteoporosis- and fall-prevention knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behaviors among women aged 65 to 74 years.

This study included an untreated control group with a pretest-posttest design. Women (n = 47) in the intervention group received four sessions of an HBM-based program within a 2-month period. Participants (n = 47) in the control group attended usual education sessions.

Women in the intervention group exhibited greater knowledge in exercise and diet for osteoporosis-prevention (t = 5.473, p < 0.001; t = 6.895, p < 0.001, respectively), fall-prevention knowledge (t = 2.354, p = 0.021), self-efficacy in exercise for osteoporosis-prevention (t = 2.736, p = 0.008), osteoporosis-prevention behavior of exercise, diet, and routine follow-ups (t = 3.019, p = 0.003; t = 2.705, p = 0.008; t = 2.368, p = 0.020, respectively), and fall-prevention behavior (t = 3.879, p < 0.001).

HBM-based osteoporosis- and fall-prevention program exhibited outstanding effectiveness in promoting osteoporosis and fall prevention among women at early old age. Further studies with more rigorous designs are needed to provide further evidence that supports this finding.