Program for Women with or at risk for Osteoporosis

Overall Program Goal

To prevent osteoporosis and to decrease the number of fractures among women by empowering them with the knowledge and skills necessary to make decisions about their bone health.

Objectives

1. To increase the understanding of osteoporosis among Tennessee women.
2. To promote health behaviors that promote bone strength and decrease bone fractures.
3. To provide a holistic approach to osteoporosis management.
4. To increase access to quality osteoporosis clinical management.

Partners

	Alliance for Better Bone Health (Procter and Gamble Pharmaceutical Company, Aventis Pharmaceuticals)
	Elaine Bunick, M.D., Endocrinologist
	University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy
	University of Tennessee Extension

Strategies

	To develop a cadre of county UT Extension educators with expertise in osteoporosis education and serve as messengers about community programs and resources addressing osteoporosis.
	To deliver community-based osteoporosis educational program tailored to meet the health literacy level and interests of the participants.
	To collaborate with other agencies and professionals addressing osteoporosis.
	To disseminate bone-health information through media and at places where people frequent.
	To promote the recommendations and resources of the National Osteoporosis Foundation and National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases~National Resource Center.

About The Program

Choices for Better Bone Health (pdf) - Program brochure

Choices for Better Bone Health Curriculum

Overall theme of the curriculum is: It's never too late - you can make your bones healthier. This curriculum is designed for both men and women with osteoporisis. There are five sessions. Each session lasts approximately 2 1/2 hours each. The sessions are divided into three sections addressing the following:

1. Core Questions Addressed: This section provides information on a topic relevant to bone health and osteoporosis.
2. Posture Alignment: This section addresses how to maintain correct postural alignment during daily activities so as to reduce the load on the spine, help reduce back pain and improve appearance.
3. Bone Health Behavior: This section offers a behavior that can help participants live well with osteoporosis and make their bones healthier.

Session Topics

1 - Choices: It's Never Too Late
2 - Choices: There's More You Can Do
3 - Choices: Taking Charge
4 - Choices: Living Safe and Sound
5 - Choices: Putting It All Together

Osteoporosis Web Sites

Visit the FCS Health & Safety - Osteoporosis page for great Web site links!

Osteoporosis: Are You Robbing Your Bones? (SP526-H)

Just the Facts

About Osteoporosis . . .

• Osteoporosis is a debilitating and costly disease that can be prevented and treated.
• Osteoporosis is not a part of normal aging although many people continue to believe this is true.
• There is no cure for osteoporosis.
• Osteoporosis progresses as a symptomless disease characterized by bone loss and deterioration of the skeleton, leading to bone fragility and increased risk of fractures.
• While women are four time more likely than men to develop the disease, men also suffer from osteoporosis.
• The 44 million people (30 million women and 14 million men) with either osteoporosis or low bone mass (osteopenia) represent 55% of people aged 50 and older in the United States.
• By the year 2010 with the large number of aging baby boomers, it is estimated that over 52 million women and men in this same age category will be affected and, if current trends continue, the figure will climb to over 61 million by 2020.
• In 2002, it is estimated that over 10 million people already have osteoporosis. Approximately, 80% of these people are women.
• This figure will rise to almost 12 million individuals by 2010 and to approximately 14 million by 2020 if additional efforts are not made to stem this disease.
• Osteoporosis is largely prevented with lifestyle behaviors (including diet, exercise and smoking cessation and no or moderate alcohol consumption) and medical treatment with appropriate.
• More and more women want to take responsibility for their bone health, but do not know how.
• It is reasonable to project that if women can be empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to make decisions about their bone health, the future for the prevention of osteoporosis is very bright.

About Bone Fractures (broken bones) . . .

• Vertebral (spine) fractures are the most common type of bone fracture, with other sites at risk including ankle, hip, wrist, humerus (upper bone of the arm above the elbow), and rib.
• Vertebral fractures are associated with deformity, height loss, back pain and increase disability and death.
• Ninety percent of hip fractures are due to osteoporosis.
• Nine out of ten hip fractures in older Americans are the result of a fall.
• Those who have a hip fracture are 5% to 20% more likely to die in the first year following that fracture than those in the same age group.
• For those living independently before a hip fracture, 15% to 25% will still be in long-term care institutions a year after their injury.
• Six months after fracturing a hip, only 15% of people can walk unassisted, and about 60% never regain the pre-injury level of mobility.
• The estimated annual national expenditure (both hospital and nursing home care) for osteoporosis and related fractures is $17 billion.

About Current Standard of Care for Patients with Osteoporosis Fracture . . .

• Most fracture patients receive no treatment for their underlying disease.
• Only 3% to 5% of hip fracture patients are evaluated for osteoporosis and treated.
• Three percent of wrist fracture patients receive Bone Density testing.
• Only 12% of vertebral fractures are diagnosed and 2% are treated.
• Patients need to be empowered to ask questions about why they have experienced a fracture and is it due to osteoporosis or low bone density.

For more information about the UT Extension Health & Safety programs, please contact your local County Extension FCS Agent.

State Contact

Barbara (Bobbi) Clarke, PhD, RD
Professor & Extension Health Specialist,
Co-Director UT Center for Community-based Health Initiatives
University of Tennessee Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
119 Morgan Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-4501
Telephone: (865) 974-8197
Fax: (865) 974-5370
E-mail: bclarke@utk.edu