A Study on the Relationships between Osteoporosis Knowledge, Self-efficacy and Health Belief of Women in an Island

Shin, Kyung Rim; Kang, Young Mi

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to examine the relationships between knowledge, health belief and self-efficacy of osteoporosis with the women residents in an island. METHOD: The subjects were 64 women who lived in an island located in Incheon metropolitan city. Data collection was performed by using questionnaire that included Osteoporosis Knowledge Test, Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale and Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale by Kim, Horan & Gendler (1991). The Data were analyzed using SAS computer program that included descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULT: 1) The mean of osteoporosis knowledge was 10.03 in the range of 0 to 24, shows the relatively lower score than mean score. The mean of osteoporosis health belief variables were susceptibility 18.95, seriousness 19.05, benefits of exercise 22.35, benefits of calcium 21.81, barriers to exercise 16.95, barriers to calcium 13.13, and health motivation 19.75 in every range of 6 to 30. The mean of osteoporosis self-efficacy was 37.95 in the range of 12 to 60, shows a relatively higher score than mean score. 2) There were statistically significant differences in the degree of osteoporosis knowledge according to age, education. But There was no significant difference in the degree of osteoporosis and self-efficacy according to general characteristics. There were statistically significant differences in the degree of susceptibility according to religion, family income. There were statistically significant differences in the degree of seriousness, health motivation according to family income. There was statistically significant difference in the degree of barriers to exercise according to education. 3) There were statistically significant positive correlations between osteoporosis knowledge and benefits to exercise, benefits of calcium intake. There was statistically no significant correlation between osteoporosis knowledge and osteoporosis self-efficacy. There was statistically a significant positive correlation between osteoporosis self-efficacy and barriers to exercise. There was statistically a significant negative correlation between osteoporosis self-efficacy and health motivation.
CONCLUSION
According to the result, osteoporosis education program including exercise, calcium intake should be operated to increase benefits to exercise and calcium intake for osteoporosis prevention. In addition, the program of improving self-efficacy should be designed and operated to decrease the perception of barriers to exercise and to increase the perception of health motivation of women in island.