Objective: Osteoporosis is often under-treated, and hip fracture is frequently its first manifestation. Hospitalization for a hip fracture is an opportunity to initiate osteoporosis treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a simple intervention improves the implementation rate of a recommended osteoporosis treatment.
Methods: One hundred elderly patients admitted with low-impact hip fracture were given a 10 minute explanation about osteoporosis and its treatment during their postoperative hospital stay. In addition, the patients received an explanatory brochure and a letter to their primary care physician that included an article on fracture rate reduction with osteoporosis treatment. Implementation of therapy was assessed by a telephone survey 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The patients who had not received treatment at 3 months were given a repeated explanation. The historical control group was comprised of 100 hip fracture patients with similar demographic characteristics, who were operated on and discharged with the standard care recommendations for osteoporosis prevention.
Results: At the 3 month follow-up, the therapy rate in both groups was similar (19%). Fifty-eight percent of the patients in the study group had no recollection of the intervention. However, after a repeated explanation, at the 6 month follow-up, 39% of the intervention group had received drug therapy for fracture prevention (P<.001).
Conclusion: A simple intervention enlisting the patients' help to involve their primary care physician can increase treatment rates for osteoporosis following a hip fracture. During the immediate postoperative period, the patients and their families have difficulty implementing the recommendations. Therefore, repeated communications are recommended.