Evaluation of Osteoporosis Awareness among Healthcare Professionals in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi: A Comprehensive Analysis using the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT)

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to assess the knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding this disease.

Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. It was conducted in five tertiary care hospitals; namely Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Khan Research Laboratories Hospital in Islamabad and Holy Family Hospital and Benazir Bhutto Hospitals from Rawalpindi. The study was completed in six months from October 2022 to March 2023. A total of 335 healthcare providers, after consent, filled out the OKAT questionnaire containing twenty questions related to osteoporosis. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.

Results: 335 medical professionals participated in this study with 117 (34.9%) males and 218 (65.1%) females having a mean age of 28.8±4.6 years (range 21 – 49 years). 225 (67.2%) had a post-graduate level of education, while 110 (32.8%) were graduates. The mean OKAT score was 11.75±2.46 out of 20; the average score had a weak significant correlation with the age of the participants (r=0.130, p=0.018). ANOVA showed that the knowledge score was significantly higher in post-graduate participants vs. graduate participants (p=0.028). It was also noted that rheumatology and endocrinology specialities were found to have the highest score of 14.86±1.95 as compared to all other specialities (p=0.006).

Conclusion: The healthcare providers had average to good knowledge about osteoporosis. The overall knowledge is affected by age, post-graduate qualification and speciality of the health care provider.