Assessment of knowledge level on osteoporosis among a private university students in Malaysia

Osteoporosis is one of the major public health problem with a high prevalence and incidence of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Evidence suggesting that osteoporosis knowledge is a contributor to osteoporosis preventive behavior. Low literacy rates, lack of understanding regarding disease risk, effects and consequences leads to increase the incidence of this combatable disease. So, Osteoporosis can be avoided via educational interventions. The objective of this study was to evaluate osteoporosis knowledge among university students in a private university in Malaysia. Information was collected through a cross sectional survey. The data gathered from seventy three university students using convenience sampling method during the period from August to October, 2016. Respondents had been requested to sign a written informed consent, then self-administered, validated questionnaire consisted of 20 items assessing knowledge regarding osteoporosis was administered. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data by Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Out of the seventy three participants, 38 % were males and 61% were female. There were 24 students in foundation and 49 students in bachelor course. The mean age of the respondents were 22.91 ± 1.74 years. Among the participants 53% were Malaysian. Total 79.4% students had poor knowledge and only 6.8% of the respondents had good knowledge on risk, cause, signs and symptoms, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Female respondents had poor knowledge (1.60+0.52) than male (1.61+0.49). Bachelor
students had poor knowledge (1.29+0.46) than foundation college students (1.92+0.26).The study finding revealed an inadequate knowledge of osteoporosis among university students, so intervention program need to be adopt to increase the knowledge regarding osteoporosis for prevention.