The awareness of osteoporosis among health professionals, consumers, and journalists.

Abstract

A survey of physicians, consumers, journalists, and experts on osteoporosis showed that the level of awareness, particularly among consumers and physicians, regarding osteoporosis and calcium supplementation is high. Professionals and consumers alike agree that osteoporosis is a serious disease. Most think that the disease is preventable, although serious. Most women are aware that osteoporosis may begin years before symptoms become evident, and that they may be subject to the disease. Most consumers and professionals believe that the ideal time to begin osteoporosis prevention is adolescence. If prevention does not begin during that age, some physicians suggest that any steps toward prevention taken premenopausally are beneficial. Nearly all of those surveyed believe that calcium as well as exercise helps prevent osteoporosis. Although about 90 percent of the physicians surveyed agreed that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) alleviates osteoporosis; only 48 percent of postmenopausal women believe that ERT is helpful. The majority of the professionals who responded believe that most women do not get enough calcium in their diets, and that most women do not exercise enough. Although in most instances the consumers responding to this study were slightly less informed about the risks and factors associated with osteoporosis than were the professionals, the opinions of the four groups surveyed were similar for most of the topics discussed.

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