Osteoporosis Preventive Behavior Among Female Healthcare Students in Da Nang, Vietnam

Background: Osteoporosis prevention at young ages is crucial to diminish the risk of the disease and its complication in later years of life. Having good osteoporosis knowledge and positive health belief may lead to better preventive behavior which then contributes to build and maintain bone health throughout life. Objective: To investigate knowledge, health belief, and behavior of osteoporosis prevention among female healthcare students. Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a public medical university in Da Nang of Vietnam. Four hundred participants were selected by applying the multistage sampling technique. Data were collected from May 2020 to June 2020 through the questionnaire that consists of 4 parts including the demographic data form, the osteoporosis knowledge assessment tool, the osteoporosis health belief scale, and the exercise and calcium behaviors scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation test. Results: Participants had poor osteoporosis knowledge (mean [SD], 37.8 [16.0]; range, 0 - 75) and low preventive behavior (mean [SD], 5.7 [3.5]; range, 0 - 25). Osteoporosis health belief was found at a moderate level with a mean (SD) of 126.7 (12.9) (range, 84 - 187). There were positive significant correlations between knowledge and health belief, knowledge and behavior of osteoporosis prevention (P < .05). Conclusions: Osteoporosis preventive behavior of female healthcare students was low. Osteoporosis education programs should be developed for female healthcare students to improve their knowledge and health belief that would then lead to their better preventive behavior.