Comparison of Osteoporosis Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behavior Among College Students of Various Racial/Ethnic Groups

Osteoporosis is known as a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences. The need for

bone health, awareness of controllable risk factors and prevention of osteoporosis begins during

one’s youth (Campbell, 2012; Cannada, 2016; Evenson & Sanders, 2016; Edmonds, Turner, &

Usdan, 2012; Ford et al., 2011; Gammage et al., 2009; Gammage et al., 2012). Currently, most

health information and health campaigns focus on older adults. To promote measurable

improvements in reducing the number of cases of osteoporosis, the focus for change needs to

start as early as teenage and young adult age. In addition to the general population trends, rates

specifically associated with the nonwhite U.S. population are expected to increase. Burge (2007)

reported that the 2005 “distribution of fractures by race/ethnicity among women reveals that

whites have 89% of the total, followed by black (4%), Hispanic (4%), and other women (3%)”

(p. 468). Burge further reported that projections between 2006 and 2025 reveal that “fractures

and costs among the nonwhite population will increase from 14% and 12% in 2005, respectively,

to 21% and 19% in 2025” (p. 468). This study identified the need to increase knowledge,

attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of college students of various racial/ethnic groups as related to

osteoporosis.