Comparison of self-care behaviors and its relationship with nutritional behaviors and health literacy in elderly women with osteoporosis and healthy referred to the bone density assessment center of Sina Hospital in Tabriz

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: As the age increases, various diseases plague the elderly. Osteoporosis is one of the most common diseases of old age. Improving health-promoting behaviors, including self-care behaviors and nutritional behaviors, as well as raising the level of health literacy of the elderly can be effective in preventing and reducing the spread of this disease. Identifying people at risk, consulting on prevention, changing behavior, correct eating style, and identifying risk factors for osteoporosis can greatly reduce the incidence of the disease. Therefore, in order to achieve the goal of public health through the role of the elderly in promoting health and self-care, a study was conducted with the aim of determining and comparing self-care behaviors and its relationship with nutritional behaviors and health literacy in elderly women with osteoporosis and healthy women who refer to the bone density measurement center. Sina Tabriz Hospital was designed. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 250 elderly postmenopausal women who referred to the Bone Densitometry Center of Sina Hospital in Tabriz. Inclusion criteria included elderly postmenopausal women 60 years and older, cessation of menstruation for at least 12 consecutive months, women who had T≥-1 based on lumbar or pelvic densitometry (healthy women) and women who had T≤-2.5 (diseased women) ) Was. Available sampling was used in this study. The study tools included demographic information questionnaire, self-care questionnaire of menopausal women, European health literacy level questionnaire and calcium and vitamin D intake frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive and inferential statistical tests such as chi-square, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney and binary logistic regression model with adjustment of confounding factors. Results: The mean and standard deviation of total self-care score was 118.97±19.92 in healthy women and 84.7±14.98 in women with osteoporosis, and it was significantly higher in healthy women. The mean and standard deviation of the total health literacy score in the healthy women group was 14.64 ± 0.98 and in the osteoporosis group was 7.76 ± 3.58, which statistically, the level of health literacy in the healthy women group was higher than the osteoporosis group. (P<0.001). The average intake of calcium and vitamin D in the healthy group was 850.52±147.92 and 3.38±0.647 respectively, while in the osteoporosis group it was 546.71±60.28 and 344. It was 2.00±0.344 . The average intake of calcium and vitamin D in the healthy group was significantly higher than the osteoporosis group (P<0.001). There was a direct and significant relationship between self-care and health literacy (r=0.616) and nutritional behaviors in both groups of women with osteoporosis (r=0.817, r=0.738) and healthy women (r=0.617, r=0.647)(P<0.001). Based on the obtained results, self-care, health literacy and nutritional behaviors were significantly higher in the group of healthy elderly women than those with osteoporosis. Also, there was a direct relationship between self-care and health literacy and nutritional behaviors of elderly women. Conclusion: Identifying the effective factors on the prevention of osteoporosis, including self-care and nutritional behaviors that promote health through increasing the level of health literacy of the elderly, can lead to the improvement of their health and reduce the risk of contracting the disease to a large extent. Health service providers, especially community health nurses, are one of the most important people in the treatment group in direct contact with elderly people and their families. According to the results of the present study that the level of health literacy and care and nutrition behaviors in women with osteoporosis is low, it is possible to improve and improve the quality of life of this segment of the society by educating the elderly and their families and applying appropriate measures and interventions. tried. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to health education programs through health professionals, considering the capabilities of the elderly, which can help improve their self-care behaviors and healthy eating style.