Osteoporosis Awareness among Female University Students in Lahore Pakistan using Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26719/LJMR.19.1.03Keywords:
Osteoporosis, Fractures, Bone Density, Calcium, Vitamin D, Prevention and ControlAbstract
Objective: To determine awareness about osteoporosis in female university students in Lahore Pakistan using
Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) and to compare osteoporosis awareness among medical
(MBBS) and non-medical students.
Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Superior University Lahore from
February to April 2024. OKAT is a validated tool to assess osteoporosis awareness and was employed in this
study. Using non-probability consecutive sampling technique, 110 medical (MBBS) female students and 110
non-medical female students aged 18 years and older who gave informed consent were enrolled. Students
with present or past history of osteoporosis were excluded. Demographic information including age, discipline
of study and family history of osteoporosis was noted. The OKAT questionnaire was distributed among the
students in the form of an online Google form. All the data was recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 23.
Results: Mean age of the participants was 21.5±4.0 years and 65 (29.5%) reported positive family history of
osteoporosis. The mean OKAT score was 10.5±3.9 with 95 (43.2%) and 78 (35.5%) participants having average
and acceptable knowledge about osteoporosis. Stratification of data revealed significant statistical association
of Osteoporosis knowledge with age (p-value 0.015) and discipline of study (p-value <0.001) but not with
family history of osteoporosis (p-value 0.229)
Conclusion: Age and discipline of study significantly influenced osteoporosis knowledge, while family history
had no correlation. Despite an average OKAT score of 10.5, there is considerable potential for improving
overall osteoporosis awareness
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