Mind the Osteoporosis Care Gap With Timely Diagnosis: An Executive Summary of Nationwide Osteoporosis Campaigns 2019–2021 Publisher



Sanjari M¹ ; Yarmohammadi H¹ ; Fahimfar N¹ ; Hajivalizadeh F² ; Hesari E¹ ; Mansourzadeh MJ¹ ; Gorgani K¹ ; Khalagi K^{1, 3} ; Hajipour F⁴ ; Larijani B⁴ ; Ostovar A¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Published:2023

Abstract

Background: The World Osteoporosis Day inaugurate on October 20 every year by the International Osteoporosis Foundation to initiate bone health and osteoporosis as a global health agenda for policymakers, health care providers, and the public. The reported the campaigns activities in three years 2019, 2020, and 2021. The aim of this campaigns was to promote the osteoporosis awareness to close osteoporosis care and data gaps. Methods: World Osteoporosis Day campaigns were held during three consecutive years 2019–2021 through “structuring” and “implantation” phases. The slogan of “early detection and timely diagnosis of osteoporosis” was followed in different public awareness and healthcare professional educational events. Also, a short survey regarding the knowledge of women aged ≥ 50 years of osteoporosis was used in campaigns to gather data for future planning. These nationwide campaigns was supported by the Osteoporosis Research Center in collaboration with the non-communicable diseases management office of Iran’s Ministry of Health. Results: All activities stablished to close the “data” and “awareness” gap in osteoporosis care. 1972, 1881, and 2538 women aged ≥ 50 were participated in the world osteoporosis campaigns and educated in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. More than thousands of online and published educational materials were provided and disseminated in group and face-to-face and virtual education via celebration meetings in primary healthcare facilities, parks and shopping malls. The wide-ranging health slogans and massages was distributed by way of SMS, press conferences on television, radio, and other social media platforms. In addition, the in-person and virtual events such as up-date osteoporosis symposiums, national osteoporosis research network meetings, osteoporosis essential courses, and subspecialty one-day seminars provided knowledge for health care teams and policy makers. Conclusion: Closing the osteoporosis treatment gap was approached by nationwide campaigns to make an appropriate intervention to emphasize early diagnosis and awareness of osteoporosis to close the care gap. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.