Osteoporosis Patient Education in Denmark

Osteoporosis Patient Education in Danish Municipalities: an Evaluation of Existing Programs and Recommendations for Further Practice

In an effect evaluation the investigators will examine the effects of participating in osteoporosis patient education. An intervention group who have already participated in patient education will be compared to a matched control group who have not participated. Effects on quality of life, fractures, daily functional capacity, self-efficacy, psychological wellbeing, physical function, balance, falls, pain management, and adherence will be examined.

In this quasi-experimental study the investigators will conduct an effect evaluation that compares an intervention group of osteoporosis patients who have participated in patient education in a municipality with a control group who have not participated. The intervention group consists of citizens who have already participated in osteoporosis patient education from 2016 until 2020. The investigators have received information on the intervention group from the municipalities who store data on previous participants. The control group will be extracted via the Danish Health Data Authority and consists of citizens who have not participated in osteoporosis patient education. For each individual in the intervention group one control will be matched regarding gender, age, diagnosis, time of diagnose, and type of fracture before the index date (i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education). The aim of the effect evaluation is to examine the effects of osteoporosis patient education on quality of life, fractures, daily functional capacity, self-efficacy, psychological wellbeing, physical function, balance, falls, pain management, and adherence. Data is generated from a register extraction and a questionnaire-based survey. The questionnaire will include information on quality of life, daily functional capacity, self-efficacy, psychological wellbeing, physical function, balance, falls, and pain management. As far as possible validated questionnaires will be included to measure these outcomes. The register extraction will be made by the Danish Health Data Authority and include information on fractures and adherence. All analyses are performed using Stata. In the analyses the investigators will compare the intervention group and the control group with regard to all outcomes. The covariates are selected on the basis of Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG) and they include e.g. socioeconomic status, cohabitee status, and co-morbidity. The analysis will be completed on an intention to treat basis.

The municipalities recruit and include citizens in osteoporosis patient education. We have already received information on participants from 2016 until 2020, and thereafter we will create a matched control group, who have not participated in osteoporosis patient education.

During osteoporosis patient education the participants get knowledge about e.g. osteoporosis, medication, and diet, and they participate in physical exercises. Though, differences between municipalities exist. The participants meet in groups and face-to-face.

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

Including hip, vertebral, forearm, and upper arm fractures registered in the National Patient Register

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

Measured with self-constructed, validated questions regarding problems with balance and balance confidence

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

Measured with self-constructed, validated questions regarding number of falls and concerns about falling

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

Including adherence to alendronate and ibandronate attained from the Danish National Prescription Registry

At follow-up (1 to 6 years after the index date i.e. the date the individual in the intervention group started on patient education)

Inclusion Criteria: To participate in osteoporosis patient education in municipalities the participants should have osteoporosis or in few cases osteopenia. Exclusion Criteria: None though this may vary across municipalities

If possible, we will store data at The Danish National Archives. We will apply for storing at a later date.