A study to assess the knowledge regarding risk factors and Preventive measures of Osteoporosis among Elderly patients in a selected Hospital Kidandoor

 

Ms. Jesni K John¹, Ms. Jismi Sunny¹, Ms. Megha C Baby¹, Ms. Saranya S¹, Ms. Snehamol Sibi¹, Ms. Tisha Thomas¹, Mrs. Lincy Joseph²,

Mrs. Sheba Elsan Mathew³

¹Third Year B.Sc. Nursing Students, Little Lourdes College of Nursing, Kidangoor, Kerala.

²Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Medical Surgical Nursing, Little Lourdes College of Nursing, Kidangoor, Kerala.

 

ABSTRACT:

There is a large amount of elderly people suffering osteoporosis. And also elderly people are more prone to develop osteoporosis; one or more people over 50 will sustain an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime. This disease is a silent thief because it slowly robs the skeleton of its banked resources. Bones eventually become so fragile that they cannot withstand normal mechanical stress. Incidence rate is high in women, especially post-menopausal women. The study is aimed to generate a general awareness about osteoporosis, to generate a generation without osteoporosis and to prevent further complications of osteoporosis. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge regarding risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis among elderly patients in a selected hospital Kidangoor. A descriptive survey design was used in this study. The population of the study includes 30 samples from various outpatient departments of Little Lourdes Mission Hospital, Kidangoor. The tools used for the data collection include structured questionnaire to assess the baseline characteristics and level of knowledge regarding the risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis. Therefore null hypothesis was accepted for age, sex, area of living, occupation, and source of information and research hypothesis is rejected, whereas there is significant association between knowledge of elderly patients and education. So for education research hypothesis is accepted and null hypothesis is rejected. The study revealed that 6.6% participants had very good knowledge, 36.6% of participants had good knowledge and 56.6% had average knowledge regarding risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis.

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures of hip , spine, and wrist. Men as well as women are affected by osteoporosis, a disease that can be prevented and treated.

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

There is a large amount of elderly persons suffering osteoporosis. And also elderly peoples are more prone to develop osteoporosis, one or more peoples over 50 will sustain an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime. This disease is silent thief because it slowly robs the skeleton of its banked resources. Bones eventually become so fragile that they cannot withstand normal mechanical stress. Incidence rate is high in women, especially post-menopausal women.

 

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

A study to assess the knowledge regarding risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis among elderly patients in a selected hospital Kidangoor.

 

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of the study are:

·      To assess the knowledge of elderly patients regarding risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis

·      To find the association                between the knowledge regarding the risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis and selected demographic variables

 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

Operational Definition:

An operational definition of a concept specifies the operation that the researcher must perform to collect required information.

 

Knowledge:

In this study it refers to the information with regard to risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis obtained from elderly people in terms of correct responses to the items or structured knowledge questionnaire.

 

Risk factors and Preventive measures:

In this study risk factors refers to factors that can lead or cause osteoporosis and preventive measures refers to the methods which will reduce the risk for developing osteoporosis.

 

Osteoporosis:

In this study it refers to relative decrease in bone mass with progressive micro architectural deterioration and increased fragility of bones leading to fracture.

 

Elderly patients

In this study it refers to the patients aged above 55 years who are visiting various outpatient departments of a selected hospital, Kidangoor.

 

HYPOTHESIS:

A statement of predicted population, parameters or relationship between variables. All hypotheses will be tested at 0.05 level of significance.

H₁: There will be significant association between the knowledge score of elderly people on risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis and selected baseline characteristics.

 

ASSUMPTIONS:

A principle that is accepted as being true based on logic of customs without proof. The study assumes that

·      The elderly patients may have some knowledge on risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis.

 

DELIMITATIONS:

The study is delimited to,

·      Elderly patients who are coming to outpatient departments of hospitals.

 

Review of Literature:

A descriptive study was conducted to assess the knowledge of osteoporosis among senior nursing students. A total of 95 senior nursing students were taken from university on the west coast of Florida. Questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge. These results suggest that the knowledge score for samples ranged from 6-20 out of the possible score of 22¹.

A descriptive study was conducted on women’s knowledge on osteoporosis in the USA, 247 women aged between 22– 80 years were selected, and data were collected by participant’s response to questions. They responded to questions about self-care practices related to risk

 

factors and preventive behavior associated with osteoporosis. The result showed that the majority of women had inadequate knowledge regarding risk factors preventive behavior of osteoporosis.²

 

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of osteoporosis and its predictors among university students. This study was conducted among random samples of medical and non-medical students from Ajman University, United Arab Emirates. The study was carried out by a self – administered questionnaire. The study showed a satisfactory level of knowledge, attitude and practice of osteoporosis.³

 

METHODOLOGY:

Research Design:

Research design is referred to as the blueprint for conducting a study that maximizes control over factors that could interfere with validity of findings, guides the planning and implementation of a study is a way that is most likely to achieve the intended goal.

 

Setting of the study:

The study is planned to be conducted in various outpatient departments of Little Lourdes Mission Hospital Kidangoor.

 

Population:

In this study population consists of elderly patients coming to various outpatient departments of a selected hospital, Kidangoor.

 

Sample size:

The sample of the study comprised 30 elderly patients.

 

Sampling technique:

The sampling technique selected for the current study was a convenient sampling technique.

 

Criteria for sample selection:

Inclusion Criteria:

The following are the various inclusion criterions used in the present study.

Elderly people coming to medical, surgical and orthopedic OPD in Little Lourdes hospital.

 

Exclusion Criteria:

Following are the various exclusion criterions utilized for the present study.

Elderly people who are coming to another OPD (ENT, Gynecology) of Little Lourdes hospital.

 

Tool:

The instruments used for data collection includes the following; Tool 1: Structured knowledge questionnaire.

 

It is divided into two sections A and B. Section A comprises 6 questions regarding Demographic Variables, Section B consists of 26 questions solely devoted for assessing the level of knowledge among the selected samples.

 

Section A: Demographic Variables.

 

Section B: Structured knowledge questionnaire.

SCORE INTERPRETATION:

Based on the score obtained the samples were graded into four categories;

·      Poor: 0-6

·      Average: 7-13

·      Good: 14-19

·      Very good: 20-26.

 

RESULTS:

The study revealed that 6.6% participants had very good knowledge, 36.6% of participants had good knowledge and 56.6% had average knowledge regarding risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis.

 

CONCLUSION:

The study revealed that 6.6% participants had very good knowledge, 36.6% of participants had good knowledge and 56.6% had average knowledge regarding risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis.

 

The present study was aimed to assess the knowledge of elderly people regarding risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis among elderly patients in a selected hospital at Kidangoor, and it was found that there is significant association between the knowledge level and education. And there is no significant association between knowledge score and age, gender, area of living, occupation and source of information.

 

NURSING IMPLICATIONS:

The findings of the present study have several implications in the field of nursing education, nursing administration and nursing research.

 

Nursing education:

The study results will help elderly patients in educating themselves regarding risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis among elderly patients .This would in turn help elderly patients to contribute health habits and patients to contribute health in their own lives.

 

Nursing administration:

Nursing administrators should take an initiative to create policies or plans in providing library facilities and adequate number of books for students.

 

Nursing practice:

Nurses play a vital role in the health care system. Measures to prevent psychological problems including anxiety have to be strengthened by emphasizing health education and awareness programs having knowledge in risk factors and preventive measures among osteoporosis by student nurses will be helpful to practice in there clinical area.

 

Nursing research:

Through research nurses can identify the knowledge of elderly patients regarding the risk factors and preventive measures of osteoporosis.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

·    A similar study can be conducted with a large sample so that finding can be generalized.

·    Study can be conducted among other settings with a variety of samples.

 

REFERENCE:

1.     www.worldjournel.com

2.     www.ncbi.nim.nah.gov

3.     Saleh Sabaa, Hemyri al, Rahiman Abdul Ammar. Assessment of knowledge attitude and practice of osteoporosis and its predictors among university students ;2018:8(9)43-48.

 

 

Received on 05.10.2020          Modified on 24.10.2020

Accepted on 14.11.2020       ©A&V Publications All right reserved