Grant: Catalyst Grant: Bone Health

Individuals 65 years and older who fracture a bone after falling from standing height or less are very likely to have another fracture and are advised to have a bone density test to determine if they have low bone mass. With few exceptions, if these individuals have low bone mass, they should be prescribed an osteoporosis (OP) medication. OP medication significantly reduces the risk of another fracture. Despite the strong evidence that medication works and despite a growing number of worldwide interventions to improve OP testing and treatment for fracture patients, fracture patients often do not get a bone density test or any treatment for osteoporosis. In this study, we will use a novel strategy by targeting an OP patient group who we believe is our success story in OP care. To accomplish this, we will interview members of the Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network who reside in Ontario, have had a fracture at the age of 65 or older, and were not being treated for OP at the time of that fracture. We will ask COPN members about their intentions and actions to follow-up with OP testing and treatment as well as their reasons for following up, or not following up. Our research will inform the development of interventions that are tailored to different types of typical fracture patients (e.g. those who do not intend to seek OP testing and treatment, or those who intend to seek treatment but are unable to) and delivered at the time that patients most need them (e.g. right after the fracture vs. right after the bone density test). It is important that fracture patients are investigated and treated for OP because appropriate treatment will prevent future fractures; this will alleviate Canadian health care costs due to fracture such as admission to hospitals, extended care facilities, and nursing homes.