Assessing osteoporosis awareness and knowledge levels of Turkish multiple sclerosis patients: an observational study

Summary

This study assessed osteoporosis knowledge and awareness among multiple sclerosis patients. The findings reveal a concerning lack of knowledge and awareness regarding osteoporosis, emphasizing the necessity for educational interventions to enhance early detection and mitigate complications within this particular patient group.

Aim

To assess the knowledge and awareness of osteoporosis in Turkish multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Material-Methods

Three hundred twenty-five patients were asked to fill out the osteoporosis awareness scale (OAS), which has a scoring range of 31–124, and the revised osteoporosis knowledge test (R-OKT), which has a score range of 0–32. Fall risk assessment for patients was conducted using the timed up-and-go test (high risk: > 30, moderate risk: 29–20, low risk: 14–19, and no risk: < 13 s).

Results

An average score of 59.42 ± 19.63(31%) on the OAS and 14.99 ± 5.39 (47%) on the R-OKT was detected. No difference was found in R-OKT scores between genders, education levels, and patients with different fall risks and between genders and education levels in OAS scores. Patients with low, medium, and high fall risks exhibited higher OAS scores compared to those without any fall risk (p = 0.006, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). No correlation was found between gender and education level with OAS and R-OKT scores and between the R-OKT scores and the risk of falls. There was a weak correlation between the OAS scores and an increased risk of falls (r = 0.269, p < 0.001). No differences between the age groups regarding OAS and R-OKT scores were observed.

Conclusions

Turkish MS patients have inadequate knowledge and low awareness of OP compared to the healthy population. Urgent action is warranted to educate and support individuals with MS, implementing targeted interventions and awareness campaigns to improve early detection and prevent osteoporosis-related complications.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05760651