Health beliefs and sense of one's own efficacy and prophylaxis of osteoporosis in peri- and post-menopausal women

• Published in: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 167 - 173
• Main Authors: Janiszewska, Mariola, Firlej, Ewelina, Dziedzic, Małgorzata, Żołnierczuk-Kieliszek, Dorota
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poland Institute of Rural Health 01-01-2016
• Subjects: Aged; Calcium; Eating behavior; Female; Health Behavior; health beliefs; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Menopause; Middle Aged; Motivation; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - prevention & control; Osteoporosis - psychology; Perimenopause - psychology; Physical activity; Poland; Post-menopause; Postmenopause - psychology; Prophylaxis; self-efficacy sense; Statistical analysis; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 1232-1966; 1898-2263
• DOI: 10.5604/12321966.1196875

Osteoporosis constitutes one of the relevant health, social and economic problems of the contemporary world which concerns 200 million women, of whom about 20-25% will experience a bone fracture. The aim of the study was to learn about the health beliefs and sense of self-efficacy in peri- and post-menopausal women regarding the prevention of osteoporosis.
A group of 300 randomly chosen women aged 45-65 who were patients of healthcare centres in Chełm, Lublin, and the surroundings of Zamość (eastern Poland), was examined. Own Health Beliefs Scale (OHBS) associated with Osteoporosis and Own Efficacy Evaluation Scale (OSES) were used for the study. The obtained material was subjected to descriptive and statistical analysis. Tukey test, t-student test and variance analysis (ANOVA) were all applied. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results were analysed using the SPSS version 19 software package.
It was stated that respondents had thought that osteoporosis is an averagely serious health problem, and they did not feel peculiarly exposed to falling ill with the disease. They attached great significance to the benefits of physical activity and correct nutrition. The perception of barriers to calcium intake and everyday exercise was moderate. Health motivation remained at the average level. Socio-demographic conditions influenced the respondents' health beliefs in a statistically significant way. Sense of self-efficacy from the aspect of taking possible action preventing osteoporosis remained on the average level; in addition, respondents more often declared the desire for a change in eating habits than resorting to physical activity.