Osteoporosis knowledge and health beliefs among middle-aged men and women in the Southern United States.

CONTEXT: The most common skeletal disease, osteoporosis, causes bone fragility due to decreased bone mass and bone microarchitecture destruction. The health belief model is often applied to asymptomatic, prevention-related diseases such as osteoporosis. Steps to mitigate the insidious nature of osteoporosis, including education, motivation, and monitoring of bone mineral density, must begin at an earlier age. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the knowledge and health beliefs surrounding osteoporosis in a population of males and females 35-50 years old to determine sex-based differences in osteoporosis knowledge and beliefs and to assess the correlation between perceptions and health motivation. METHODS: Participants (81 males, 92 females) completed two questionnaires: the Osteoporosis Knowledge Test and the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale. Descriptive statistics were performed along with Pearson product-moment correlation analysis to determine the relationships between the variables. Sex-based differences were calculated utilizing independent t-tests. RESULTS: We discovered a statistically significant negative correlation between the barriers to exercise and health motivation (-0.434, p < 0.001) and a statistically significant positive correlation between the benefits of exercise and health motivation (0.385, p < 0.001). However, there was not a statistically significant correlation between health motivation with the following: the benefits of calcium, susceptibility, and the seriousness of osteoporosis. Between males and females, there was a statistically significant difference in exercise and calcium knowledge, susceptibility, and the benefits of both exercise and calcium (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Males and females 35-50 years old perceive themselves to have a low susceptibility to osteoporosis. They do not consider osteoporosis a serious disease and have little motivation to mitigate its inception or progression. Their perceptions show that barriers to exercise impact health motivation more than the perceived benefits of exercise.

Bone Mineral Density Among Men and Women Aged 35 to 50 Years.

CONTEXT: Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and has been thought to only be a major health concern for postmenopausal women. However, osteoporosis and its risk factors have been greatly understudied in the middle-aged and male populations. OBJECTIVE: To assess the likelihood of low BMD and its association with related risk factors in early-middle-aged (defined in this study as 35-50 years) men and women. METHODS: Eligible men and women completed a questionnaire assessing calcium intake, hours per week of exercise, and other related risk factors associated with osteoporosis and osteopenia. The primary outcome variable, BMD, was attained using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans taken at the femoral neck, trochanter, intertrochanteric crest, total femur, and lumbar spine. RESULTS: Of the 173 participants in this study, 23 men (28%) and 24 women (26%) had osteopenia at the femoral neck. In men, there was a significant and negative correlation between exercise and femoral neck BMD (r=-0.296, P=.01). In women, correlation analyses showed significant positive correlations between exercise and BMD of the trochanter (r=0.329, P=.003), intertrochanteric crest (r=0.285, P=.01), total femur (r=0.30, P=.01), and lumbar spine (r=0.29, P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: Osteopenia was found in more than 25% of both male and female participants, which suggests that more osteoporosis screening and prevention programs need to be targeted to persons in the studied age group because osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis.

Perceptions and Practices of the Iranian Population regarding Skin Cancers: A Literature Review.

Despite being preventable, more than 15% of all cancer cases in Iran occur in the skin, making them the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in the country. The purpose of this study is to gain an insight into the current skin cancer related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices among the Iranian population. A systematic computer based literature search was conducted using databases for articles published through April 2017. Research studies included those that measured skin cancer or sun protection related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors in different Iranian population groups. Exclusion criteria for the articles included (1) irrelevant topics to the review article's aim, (2) articles that focused on the treatment of skin cancers instead of prevention practices, and (3) similar studies conducted on populations not indigenous to Iran. A total of 25 articles that met the eligibility criteria were included in the review. Predominant data were collected via questionnaires. Skin cancer related knowledge varied from low to high across the studies. Moreover, there was a pattern of low perceived skin cancer susceptibility and severity. Overall, there was low usage of sun protection methods among the Iranian population. The findings of this study show that efforts to prevent skin cancer are needed. Education concerning the dangers of sun exposure as well as strategies used to prevent or lower the risk of developing skin cancer should be stressed.

Impact of Anatomy Boot Camp on Students in a Medical Gross Anatomy Course.

Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) offers an optional three-week summer Anatomy Boot Camp course (ABC) to facilitate students' transition into medical school and promote retention of anatomy subject matter. The pre-matriculation program is a supplemental instruction course that utilizes a small group learning format. Boot camp instruction is led by teaching assistants and two anatomy professors. Enrollees gain early exposure to Medical Gross Anatomy (MGA) course subject matter, which is taught in the fall semester, and learn study skills necessary to excel in medical school. No grade is assigned for the course, therefore participants can study without the fear of potentially affecting grades. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the LMU-DCOM ABC course using data from four consecutive summers. Independent two-sample t-tests were used to compare ABC to non-ABC students for the following variables: incoming grade point average (GPA) and Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) scores, MGA written and laboratory practical examination grades, and final MGA course grade. Additionally, a 26-question survey was administered to 2012-2014 boot camp participants. There were no significant differences in incoming GPA and MCAT scores. However, boot campers scored significantly higher on the first two lecture and laboratory examinations (P < 0.05) for each year of the study. Thereafter scores varied less, suggesting a faster head start for boot camp participants. Mean MGA final grade was on average 3% higher for the boot camp cohort. The survey feedback supports that the ABC course assists with the academic and social transition into medical school. Anat Sci Educ 10: 215-223. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.