Improving patient outcomes after a suspected osteoporotic fracture: Exploring New Zealand orthopaedic nurses' knowledge of osteoporosis and their perception of their role in the prevention of osteoporosis and in the diagnosis, treatment, and education of patients presenting with a suspected osteoporotic fracture

Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent yet preventable disease. Nurses can play a major role in the prevention of osteoporosis as well as in the preventative treatment of patients who have had a suspected osteoporotic fracture. A literature review revealed internationally that, nurses’ knowledge of osteoporosis is at the same level than that of lay people. No literature regarding the knowledge of osteoporosis nurses in New Zealand have, has been found. The purpose of this descriptive exploratory study is: i) To explore whether NZ orthopaedic nurses have the appropriate osteoporosis-related knowledge to provide osteoporosis prevention education, ii) To identify whether lack of knowledge of osteoporosis amongst nurses is a barrier in osteoporosis prevention, iii) To explore orthopaedic nurses’ perception of their role in the diagnosis and prevention of osteoporosis, iv) To explore strategies to improve knowledge of osteoporosis with the aim to tailor educational material to the needs of nurses to improve the impact and effectiveness of the material. An existing self-administered, web-based questionnaire developed to assess nurses’ knowledge of osteoporosis was sent to a convenience sample of orthopaedic nurses affiliated with the New Zealand Orthopaedic Nurses Association. Participants were encouraged to pass the survey on to colleagues. Data was analysed quantitatively for the Osteoporosis Knowledge Questionnaire, using descriptive statistics for socio-demographic data and a qualitative approach for the nurses’ perception of their role, perceived barriers and educational preferences. The findings reveal orthopaedic nurses in New Zealand have inadequate knowledge of osteoporosis and identify this as one of the barriers in the education of patients regarding osteoporosis.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Nursing

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Eastern Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Fourie, Hannelie

• New Zealand
• orthopaedic nurses
• osteoporosis
• knowledge
• roles
• surveys

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6543

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10652/6543