Evaluation of Osteoporosis Awareness Among Post-Menopausal Women

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL: POST-MENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: EVALUATION OF OSTEOPOROSIS AWARENESS
AMONG POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1RESEARCH PROPOSAL: POST-MENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS
Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
Research Aims and Objectives............................................................................................9
Research Questions..............................................................................................................9
Research Methodology......................................................................................................10
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................12
References..........................................................................................................................13
Appendices........................................................................................................................18
Appendix 1: Proposed Costing (As designed by the Author)........................................18
Appendix 2: Proposed Timeframe (As designed by the Author)..................................18

2RESEARCH PROPOSAL: POST-MENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS
Introduction
As researched by Black and Rosen (2016), osteoporosis is a chronic disease condition
characterized by the emergence of fragility in the skeletal system. In accordance to the World
Health Organization, an individual is deemed to be diagnosed with osteoporosis if he or she is in
possession of a bone mass which is greater than 2.5 standard deviations below the recommended
meal values in adults (Zamaniet al. 2018).
As examined Zhang et al. (2016), type-2 osteoporosis is alternatively known as age-
associated or senile osteoporosis. With increasing age, hindrances in the equilibrium between
osteoblastic-associated bone modeling and osteoclastic-associated bone resorption processes are
observed. This results in simultaneous losses of rigid cortical and spongy trabecular bones.
According to Eastell et al. (2016), type 1 osteoporosis is also known as postmenopausal
osteoporosis. Such gender-associated chronic pathologies occurs due to reductions of estrogen.
Estrogen has been known to exert protective effects on osteoblasts responsible for bone
modelling
Hence, the following research proposal will outline the rationale and methodologies
underlying the evaluation of awareness among post-menopausal women concerning the role of
diet and physical activity in influencing osteoporosis symptoms and prevalence.
In accordance to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis affects a total of
200 million of the global population. Of this, 30% of the population at risk is distributed across
women in the post-menopausal stage, in Europe and United States. Lack of adequate treatment
will result in an increased susceptibility of vertebral and hip fractures in an estimated 40% of

3RESEARCH PROPOSAL: POST-MENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS
such women (Cianferottiet al. 2015). Further, as per the National Health Service, osteoporosis
affects almost 3 million of the population of the United Kingdom, of which post-menopausal
women have been estimated to be a high risk group (Van der Veldeet al. 2017). Further,
according to the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence, lack of adequate awareness
and osteoporosis management further accounts for an alarming 75, 000 femoral fracture cases in
the United Kingdom and 12% women residing in additional European countries (Compston
2017). According to World Health Organization as well as the International Osteoporosis
Foundation, indicates three to four fold increase in susceptibilities of osteoporosis-associated
fractures in women worldwide. Osteoporosis affects 3.5 million in the United Kingdom, of
which, 21.8% comprise of women (Edwards 2017).
Hence the increased susceptibilities of osteoporosis and future possibilities of fractures
across women comprise the underlying background for the proposed research.
Authors Andreopoulou and Bockman (2015) researched that the of the key effects post
the menopausal stage in women is the reduction in estrogen, which has been documented to exert
protective effects on osteoblasts. These are osteoids responsible with the functions of bone
modeling, comprising of acquisition of serum calcium for the purpose of bone growth,
structuring and repair from minor fractures.
Hence, as researched by Eastwell and Szulc (2017), post menopause results in increased
activation of osteoclastic activity. This results in dissolution of bone calcium to counteract low
serum calcium levels. Menopause further results in loss of osteoblastic processes which results
in loss of cortical as well as trabecular bone among post-menopausal women. Hence, the above
chronic bone pathologies results in reduced bone mass, bone density, bone strength and bone

4RESEARCH PROPOSAL: POST-MENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS
porosity, resulting in an increased risk of the acquisition of fractures among women in the post-
menopausal stage.
Recent research has also examined lack of awareness among post-menopausal concerning
osteoporosis. A survey conducted by Janiszweskaet al. (2016), among 292 osteoporotic women,
in the age group of 51 to 83 years, reported low levels of knowledge and awareness concerning
the assessment, treatment and underlying factors of risk underlying osteoporosis, even among
subjects undergoing examinations of bone densitometry. The study however, noted the presence
of increased osteoporotic knowledge and awareness among post-menopausal women with levels
of education. Increased knowledge was also noted in women residing in urbanized areas and in
possession of comfortable socioeconomic standards.
Similarly, an additional survey was undertaken by the Lewieckiet al. (2019) for the
evaluation of perceptions associated with risk of fractures couple with barriers concerning
diagnosing and treatment of osteoporosis among a total of 1012 women in the post-menopausal
stage. The authors obtained results indicating that only 45% women were aware of the
osteoporotic risk factors of fractures while 42% had underwent no form of osteoporotic
screening. Further, as observed by in the disease trends indicated by the disease trends reported
by the World Health Organization, the National Health Service and International Osteoporosis
Foundation, osteoporosis contributes to a total of 3.5 million cases and 75, 000 fractures in the
United Kingdom, of which, 21.8% include women in the post-menopausal stage.
Authors Park et al. (2017), identified the positive association between education
dissemination on the importance of diet and exercise and improvements in self-management of
osteoporosis. The collective contributions of dietary calcium and Vitamin D intake, coupled with
adequate exercise is notable in the prevention and management of osteoporosis – the levels of

5RESEARCH PROPOSAL: POST-MENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS
which have been found to be low among post-menopausal women, due to prevalence of lack of
awareness. Hence, this rationale and importance of this research lies in the identification of
associations between dietary and exercise factors on osteoporosis awareness among women,
which may further pave the way for future health promotional activities aimed at enhancing
awareness among post-menopausal women.
Hence, the need of the hour is to generate sufficient levels of awareness among post-
menopausal women concerning the various risk factors and endocrinal pathophysiologies
associated with osteoporosis along with the treatment procedures. This can be utilized for the
purpose of ensuring positive health outcomes. However, as researched in the cross sectional
study by Langer et al. (2016), evaluation of existing levels of awareness among the high risk
group of post-menopausal women is of utmost importance. Hence, the endrocrinal associated
osteoporotic pathologies and high fracture susceptibility coupled with the need for identification
of the factors associated with osteoporotic awareness among post-menopausal women form the
underlying rationale of this research.
In a comparative study Authors Miyakoshi et al. (2017), researched that one of the
primary negative health consequences associated with osteoporosis, is the high prevalence of
fractures pertaining to the hips, thighs and vertebrae as a result of injuries, falls and poor bone
density. As reviewed by Pisaniet al. (2016), fractures associated with osteoporosis cause
hindrances to the mobility of the patient resulting in increased dependency and an inability to
perform daily life activities. Such consequences further result in self-perceptions of being a
burden. This is accompanied by a disinterest towards social engagement due to the associated
physical inabilities and deformities.