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Health promotion and osteoporosis prevention among postmenopausal women
1Ball State University, School of Nursing, Muncie, Indiana 47306, USA.
Background:
Although there is a plethora of literature about osteoporosis, little is known about the attitudinal variables that may predict osteoporosis-preventive behaviors (OPBs) among postmenopausal women. This study examined the relationship between variables from the Health Promotion Model (HPM) and OPBs of calcium intake, exercise participation, and taking of estrogen/hormone replacement therapy (ERT/HRT).
Methods:
One hundred women completed measures of benefits and barriers to calcium intake, exercise participation, ERT/HRT usage; self-efficacy; control of health; importance of health; and health status. Participants also reported their actual calcium intake, exercise participation, and use of ERT/HRT:
Results:
Participants consumed an average of 1,243 mg of calcium from milk, yogurt, calcium-rich foods, and supplements; 81% participated in weight-bearing and resistant training exercise but on an irregular basis; and 31% were users of ERT/HRT at the time of data collection. There were significant relationships between some of the HPM variables and calcium intake and exercise participation. There was a significant difference between past and current users of ERT regarding benefits and barriers to taking hormones. Hormone users reported higher calcium intake and greater exercise participation than nonusers.
Conclusion:
There is early evidence that variables of the HPM are associated with OPBs. After continued testing, intervention programs for osteoporosis prevention may use variables of the HPM as a theoretical base for behavior changes.