J Menopausal Med.  2017 Aug;23(2):102-107. 10.6118/jmm.2017.23.2.102.

A Survey of Osteoporosis and Breast Cancer Risk Perception among Menopausal and Postmenopausal Women in Hong Kong

• Chow LW
• Cheung MM
• Chu JW
• Li IC

• KMID: 2389225
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6118/jmm.2017.23.2.102

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
A lack of understanding in menopausal and postmenopausal women's (PMW) risk perception towards osteoporosis and breast cancer still exists, which is explored in this study. This information might allow health professionals to conduct interventions to improve health behaviors before menopause-related diseases are imminent.
METHODS
Between 10 December 2015 and 31 January 2016, 573 menopausal or PMW were successfully interviewed on 17 questions, comprising separate sections for osteoporosis and breast cancer. The target respondents were menopausal or PMW aged 45 to 60 years, with no previous diagnosis of osteoporosis or breast cancer, who attended private clinics across Hong Kong for annual physical examination.
RESULTS
Regarding menopausal issues, the top three concerns were osteoporosis and fracture (72%), breast cancer (44%), and sleep disorder/insomnia/headache (40%). Among 314 respondents (55%) who tried to prevent osteoporosis, 74% of them began to do it after they were 40 years old. On the other hand, 65% of respondents never had a bone density test. For respondents who said "I'm too young, so I don't need to check", their mean age was 52 years old. Ninety percent of respondents mistakenly believed that regular breast examination, regular breast massage, drink soy milk, or vaccine can prevent breast cancer.
CONCLUSIONS
This survey revealed osteoporosis and breast cancer as the top concerns among menopausal and PMW in Hong Kong. Inadequate health behaviors and misconceptions still exist despite widespread health education in the recent years.

Keyword

Breast cancer; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal; Risk perception; Survey

MeSH Terms

Bone Density
Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Diagnosis
Female
Hand
Health Behavior
Health Education
Health Occupations
Hong Kong*
Humans
Massage
Osteoporosis*
Physical Examination
Soy Milk
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Personal habit of respondents to prevent osteoporosis (n = 314).

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  Fig. 2 Reasons why 65% of respondents never had a bone density test (respondents were allowed to choose more than one response; n = 374).

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  Fig. 3 Reasons why 37% of respondents did not do regular breast examination (respondents were allowed to choose more than one response; n = 210).

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