Exercise for Osteoporosis Prevention: A Health Belief Model Guided Intervention

Abstract
Exercise for Osteoporosis Prevention: A Health Belief Model Guided Intervention
Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a health fair, on bone health, as an intervention to improve the participants’ report of their self-efficacy before and after their participation.
Framework: The Health Belief Model (HBM) provides a useful framework to understand health behavior and engage people in preventive activities. Health beliefs influence health behaviors. HBM constructs are valuable guides in designing interventions to promote health behavior modification supporting bone health.
Research question: Will participants in an osteoporosis exercise prevention targeted health fair significantly improve their osteoporosis self-efficacy exercise scores?
Method: Outcome HBM measures used: Revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Exercise Test (OKT), Osteoporosis Health Belief Exercise Scales (OHBS) and Osteoporosis Self-efficacy Exercise Scale (OSES), gaged knowledge, beliefs and self-efficacy for exercise prevention behaviors in a convenience sample population. The exercise promotion health fair intervention was designed to strengthen self-efficacy for osteoporosis exercise prevention behaviors and outcome expectations. The HBM guided health fair was a two hour program lead by an advanced practice nurse who collaborated with community healthcare and fitness professionals.
Results: Sixty two participants were screened for their ten year fracture risk probability and assessed to have a ≥ 10 score indicating significant risk. They completed pre-program measures and were invited to attend the intervention. Thirty five participants attended BE fracture FREE and completed the post-intervention OSES scale.
Findings: Participant total OSES mean scores for the post- minus pre-program were 26.00 vs 22.46. A paired, two-tailed t-test result of p < 0.001, < 0.05 preset alpha, indicated levels of self-efficacy for exercise prevention behaviors significantly improved following the health fair.