Survey of osteoporosis preventive care in community family medicine settings.

Objective: This study's objective was to document and describe osteoporosis preventive care for women age 45 years and older in community family medicine practices.

Methods: We conducted a crosssectional mailed survey of 400 women age 45 years and older enrolled in a community-based family medicine research network. Participants responded to 42 items regarding osteoporosis screening and prevention during primary care visits.

Results: A total of 275 women returned the survey (response rate 71.4%). Of the respondents, 162 (58.9% of the sample) were ages 45 to 64, and 113 (41.1%) were age 65 and older. Rates of counseling on calcium intake, exercise, falls, and bone density testing were similar in the two age groups. Half of women age 65 and older and 43.8% of women under 65 had received bone density testing. Ninety-two percent of the respondents rated a discussion of osteoporosis and fracture prevention with their primary care provider as "very," "moderately," or "somewhat" important, but only 44% actually had such a discussion.

Conclusions: Most women age 45 and older considered osteoporosis preventive care to be important. However, fewer than half discussed this topic with their primary care provider, and only half of women age 65 and older had undergone bone density screening.