The Development of an Osteoporosis Prevention Education Intervention

Abstract Background: Osteoporosis prevention education interventions have been found to be ineffective. Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of a developed intervention based on the health belief model, which emphasized its visible severity and proximal time of onset. Method: A sample of 109 college women were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group to receive an osteoporosis prevention education intervention or stress management intervention, respectively. After pretest, interventions were administered, followed by posttest two weeks later. Results: Both groups showed a significant increase in perceived benefits of exercise to prevent osteoporosis, perceived barriers to exercise, perceived barriers to calcium and health motivation; however, there were no group differences. Perceived susceptibility to osteoporosis differed significantly before and after intervention; however, there was no group difference post intervention after controlling for difference before intervention. Discussion: Likely due to the distal time of onset of osteoporosis, young individuals are not concerned with preventing the disease. Promoted health behaviors should be desirable and manageable. Translation to Health Education Practice: Promoted health behaviors should emphasize benefits that are motivating with more proximal, rather than distal, time of onset. They should also be promoted for their enjoyment in order to help initiate, and ultimately sustain, them.