Assessment of rehabilitation nurses’ knowledge and results of a nurse educational programme regarding osteoporosis and fragility fractures

Rehabilitation Nurses in Portugal have room to improve their knowledge of osteoporosis and fragility fractures (FF). A hybrid educational programme proved effective in improving nurses’ knowledge, especially among specialist and orthopaedic service nurses.

Nurses’ knowledge about Osteoporosis and FF is considered insufficient, even among professionals directly dealing with these patients, as evidenced by international data. Continuing professional training can contribute to improving the quality of care for individuals who have experienced a FF through the implementation of educational programmes. The study aimed to assess the knowledge of Rehabilitation Nurses in Portugal on osteoporosis and fragility fractures and to evaluate the impact of a specific educational programme on nurses’ knowledge.

In Phase I, a cross-sectional study involved 452 participants, utilizing a 26-question knowledge test. In Phase II, a quasi-experimental study included 42 nurses from 28 hospitals, subjected to a 30-h hybrid educational programme. The programme comprised 9 online (2 h 30 min each) and 2 live sessions, covering assessment, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, monitoring, project planning, consultations, and outcome indicators measurement. A before-and-after programme knowledge test was administered.

The results of the study indicated that:

• Phase I revealed an average knowledge score of 69.6%. The main areas with knowledge deficit were related to epidemiology and nutrition. Knowledge of osteoporosis and FF was positively correlated with higher academic degree.
• In Phase II, there was a significant increase in knowledge within the intervention group. This knowledge enhancement was statistically significant among specialized nurses and nurses practicing in orthopedic services.

According to the authors: ‘This two-phase study highlights the importance of addressing knowledge gaps among healthcare professionals, with a specific focus on rehabilitation nurses, in the context of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. We strongly recommend that all nursing degrees should incorporate a module of 40 h dedicated to osteoporosis and fragility fractures’.

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