A Risk Reduction Program for Osteoporosis Complications among Postmenopausal Women: A Quasi- Experimental Design

Osteoporosis is considered a common health problem in postmenopausal women. Therefore, reducing modifiable risk factors through dietary, lifestyle changes, and compliance of pharmacological therapy for those women at a significant risk of osteoporosis or fracture are essentials to the management of skeletal health of postmenopausal women.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of risk reduction program of osteoporosis among post-menopausal women. The study hypothesizes that the risk reduction program will improve women's knowledge and performance toward decrease complications of osteoporosis.

A Quasi experimental research design was utilized to fulfill the aim of this study. The study was conducted at outpatient of osteoporosis clinic in Tanta university hospital, and Al-Minshawi general hospital. A purposive sample was used in this study of 126 women. The data gathered using three tools. Pretest done to assess postmenopausal women's' knowledge, risk factor assessment tool was used to assess postmenopausal women's practices, and medical history of postmenopausal women. The study was carried out over a seven-months period, commencing in early October 2023 and beginning of May 2024. The obtained findings were analyzed by appropriate statistical methods and tests of significance, data were presented in tables and charts using SPSS version 22 the statistical significance and associations were assessed using percentage values (%), mean value, and standard deviation (SD), and Chi square test (X²) and P- value, r test, and t-test.

According to this study there were 61.9% of postmenopausal women their age ranged between 55: ≥ 60 years with Mean ± SD = 54.80 ± 3.499, and there was improvement in total knowledge of postmenopausal knowledge as in preprogram was 13.20± 4.351 and improved to 25.85± 3.992 post program with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001), and there was improvement in total knowledge of postmenopausal knowledge as in preprogram was 92.9% had in adequate level of practice while after program became 74.6% had adequate level of practice regard prevention of complication of osteoporosis with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001).

The risk reduction of osteoporosis program was effective and beneficial for improving postmenopausal women's knowledge and practices regarding risk reduction of osteoporosis. Continuous of various educational programs for postmenopausal women should be implemented in the outpatient clinics in the hospitals through professional development programs.