Objectives: To evaluate the perception and awareness of osteoporosis prevention among physicians in Taiwan. Methods: Physicians who attended the Taiwan Osteoporosis Forum were invited to fill out a questionnaire in November 2003 and January 2004. Finally, a total of 197 valid responses were analyzed (response rate 98.5%). Results: Of the 197 physicians, 66 (33.5%) were affiliated to medical centers and 131 (66.5%) were from non-medical centers. Most physicians (88.8%, n=175) had ever made diagnosis of osteoporosis in their clinical practice, and 53.3% of them reported that the frequency of that diagnosis were weekly. About two-thirds of them (71.7%, n=141) rated the awareness of osteoporosis in general population being inadequate. However, only half of them (51.3%, n=101) discussed this issue with their patients. Physicians from medical centers considered fracture prevention (55.6%) and fracture pain reduction (19.0%) as main treatment goals. Meanwhile, physicians from non-medical center regarded fracture prevention (40.0%) and increment of bone mineral density (26.2%) as top priorities at caring osteoporotic patients. There was a significant difference of the treatment goals between the two groups (p<0.05). The most frequently used assessment method was the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (68.1%), followed by conventional plain radiograph (20.0%) and calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (11.9%). And 98.2% physicians would consider medical treatment among women aged over 60 years who were diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the awareness of osteoporosis prevention was inadequate among physicians in Taiwan. More education and training are needed to facilitate early intervention in fracture prevention and osteoporosis treatment.
Objectives: To evaluate the perception and awareness of osteoporosis prevention among physicians in Taiwan. Methods: Physicians who attended the Taiwan Osteoporosis Forum were invited to fill out a questionnaire in November 2003 and January 2004. Finally, a total of 197 valid responses were analyzed (response rate 98.5%). Results: Of the 197 physicians, 66 (33.5%) were affiliated to medical centers and 131 (66.5%) were from non-medical centers. Most physicians (88.8%, n=175) had ever made diagnosis of osteoporosis in their clinical practice, and 53.3% of them reported that the frequency of that diagnosis were weekly. About two-thirds of them (71.7%, n=141) rated the awareness of osteoporosis in general population being inadequate. However, only half of them (51.3%, n=101) discussed this issue with their patients. Physicians from medical centers considered fracture prevention (55.6%) and fracture pain reduction (19.0%) as main treatment goals. Meanwhile, physicians from non-medical center regarded fracture prevention (40.0%) and increment of bone mineral density (26.2%) as top priorities at caring osteoporotic patients. There was a significant difference of the treatment goals between the two groups (p<0.05). The most frequently used assessment method was the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (68.1%), followed by conventional plain radiograph (20.0%) and calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (11.9%). And 98.2% physicians would consider medical treatment among women aged over 60 years who were diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the awareness of osteoporosis prevention was inadequate among physicians in Taiwan. More education and training are needed to facilitate early intervention in fracture prevention and osteoporosis treatment.