Osteoporosis knowledge and related factors among orthopedic nurses in Hunan province of China.
A low level of knowledge and awareness of specifics regarding osteoporosis among orthopedic nurses can compromise the quality of patient education and nursing care. There are significant variations in education levels among Chinese nurses, however, little is known about the awareness of osteoporosis among orthopedic nurses in China. The objective of this study was to assess the level of osteoporosis knowledge and identify factors that correlated with knowledge levels. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among orthopedic nurses at 13 tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province, China. Knowledge was assessed by the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Test (OKAT). A total of 558 nurses completed the survey and 530 valid questionnaires were returned with a response rate of 95%. Each question had three response options of "True", "False" and "Don't know." The mean of scores from all OKAT questions was 11.4 (range 2-17; SD = 2.5). Factors associated with a better knowledge included age (36-45 years) marital status (married) and education (bachelor degree or above). Only 93 nurses (18%) had previously attended formal training regarding osteoporosis. Orthopedic nurses had moderate-to-low levels of knowledge regrading osteoporosis. The survey highlighted the potential areas for improvement, especially among younger single nurses with lower educational levels. In-depth education may contribute to improving service quality and offering better tutoring for fragility fracture patients through increased awareness and knowledge.