[Calcitonin in the treatment of osteoporosis: its use in a basic health area]

To find the number of patients who receive calcitonin in a health district and to evaluate the quality of their treatments in terms of their completeness and of health promotion measures.

A descriptive crossover study with a questionnaire.

A rural health district in Alicante province.

116 patients who attended the different clinics in the district and received calcitonin treatment.

A questionnaire on treatment and health promotion advice was given to those patients located. We also checked through the existing clinical documentation.

The prevalence of treatment was 2.27 per 100 inhabitants over 45. The standardised ratio of consumption of calcitonin in the District was 0.663 of that in the Health Area and 0.631 of that in the Community of Valencia. Eighty-three of the treatments (78.3%) did not contain sufficient calcium salt and/or vitamin D, according to the criteria of the study. Thirty-one patients (29.2%) did not remember having received any recommendation on health promotion measures. There were no significant differences on account of the origin of, or responsibility for, the treatment.

The prevalence of treatment in the district was less than in the Area and the Community of Valencia. Many of these treatments were incomplete in calcium and vitamin D. Recommendations about life-styles were remembered little. An effort is needed to make correct and integrated treatments.