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Osteoporosis and premature ovarian insufficiency: geographic variation in clinicians’ and consumers’ knowledge gaps and barriers to care

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine whether geographic variation exists in osteoporosis knowledge, management, and barriers to care in the setting of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), among general practitioners (GPs) and women with POI.

Methods

Australian GPs completed an online questionnaire regarding osteoporosis knowledge, barriers to care and educational preferences for managing osteoporosis in POI. Women with POI/early menopause (EM) completed an online questionnaire regarding osteoporosis knowledge, risk factors and health beliefs. Clinicians and consumers in metropolitan areas were compared to those in rural areas.

Results

Of 688 GP respondents, 62.2% practised in major capital cities, 13.1% in major regional cities, 7.8% in regional centres, 8.7% in rural areas and 8.1% in remote areas. Mean ± SD osteoporosis knowledge score was 9.1 ± 1.5/13, with no difference by location. Forty-one percent of GPs reported barriers to care which varied by location. Of 316 women with POI/EM, 61.1% lived in metropolitan, 22.5% in regional, 11.7% in rural and 4.4% in remote locations. The mean osteoporosis knowledge score was 8.2 ± 3.1/20, with lower scores in women living in rural and remote versus metropolitan locations (difference − 1.3; 95% CI − 2.3, − 0.25; p = 0.02). Women in rural areas were less likely to use vitamin D supplements and more likely to have a family history of osteoporosis (both p < 0.05).

Conclusions

GP knowledge gaps and specific, location-dependent care barriers for osteoporosis in POI were identified. Geographic differences in osteoporosis knowledge and risk factors exist in women with POI/EM. These factors require consideration when designing programs to improve bone health in POI.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledged Dr. Ramesh Manocha of Healthed for distribution of General Practitioner surveys.

Consumers were recruited from Breast Cancer Network Australia’s Review and Survey Group.

Funding

AJ holds a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) postgraduate scholarship and an Avant Doctor in Training Research Scholarship.

JB holds a NHMRC Career Development fellowship.

AV holds an Osteoporosis Australia–Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS) grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Alicia R. Jones, Maylyn Goh, Jacqueline Boyle, Helena Teede & Amanda J Vincent

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia

    Alicia R. Jones, Frances Milat, Peter R Ebeling, Helena Teede & Amanda J Vincent

  3. School of Rural Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Robyn Langham

  4. Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia

    Frances Milat

  5. Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Frances Milat & Peter R Ebeling

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  1. Alicia R. Jones
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Correspondence to Alicia R. Jones.

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Jones, A.R., Goh, M., Langham, R. et al. Osteoporosis and premature ovarian insufficiency: geographic variation in clinicians’ and consumers’ knowledge gaps and barriers to care. Arch Osteoporos 15, 38 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-020-00713-8

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