Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Survey of Osteoporosis among Students of a Tertiary Institution in Malaysia

Yusra Habib Khan , Azmi Sarriff, Amer Hayat Khan, Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia (USM). Pulau Penang 11800 Malaysia;

For correspondence:- Yusra Khan Email: yusrahabib@ymail.com Tel:+0060164530979

Received: 8 December 2012 Accepted: 1 November 2013 Published: 25 January 2014

Citation: Khan YH, Sarriff A, Khan AH, Mallhi TH. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Survey of Osteoporosis among Students of a Tertiary Institution in Malaysia. Trop J Pharm Res 2014; 13(1):155-162 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v13i1.22

© 2014 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate knowledge and perceptions of osteoporosis among university students in Malaysia belonging to different age groups, gender and ethnicity.

Methods: Using convenience sampling method, current study was conducted among students of University Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Penang, Malaysia. A pre-validated self- administered questionnaire was used to carry out the study.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 24.61 ± 5.51 years. A majority, 401 (87 %), identified osteoporosis correctly as a disease that makes bones weak and fragile. Lack of milk and dairy products were identified by majority of participants (74 %) as a risk factor for osteoporosis while being petite (24 %) and family history (34.5 %) were the least identified risk factors. Female showed statistically higher knowledge score than males (243.89 versus 216.12, p = 0.02). Ethnicity (Malay: 228.32, Chinese: 264.46, Indian: 194.04, Others: 236.94, p = 0.00) and type of education (Hybrid: 225.99, Arts: 182.21, Science: 286.23, p = 0.00) were factors that correlated significantly with knowledge and perceptions of osteoporosis.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates an urgent need for the implementation of educational and awareness programs for university students belonging to various age groups. Such programs should be designed on the basis of the parameters of health belief model.

Keywords: Attitude, Bones, Knowledge, Osteoporosis, Practice, University students