The Determination of Predictive Construct of Physical Behavior Change on Osteoporosis Prevention Women Aged 30-50: A Trans-Theoretical Method Study

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a major public health priority in Iran and throughout the world. The prevention of osteoporosis has recently become the ultimate goal of many health professionals. Behavior change is one of the most powerful strategies to prevent osteoporosis. This study aimed to determine the predictive construct of physical preventive behavior of osteoporosis in women aged 30-50 in Khorramabad, west of Iran. This study included 269 women selected from all the health centers of Khorramabad city according to the inclusion criteria of the study and through random cluster and systematic sampling. The data gathering tools were valid and reliable questionnaires of demographic information, stages of change, decisional balance, self-efficacy, and physical activity. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean of the subjects’ age was 38.72±7.003, and the mean of light weekly physical activity was 38.83±56.400. The results showed that the construct of self-efficacy had the highest predictive power of the preventive behavior. The results also showed that self-efficacy among the constructs of the Trans-theoretical Model was the only predictive construct for osteoporosis prevention behavior. Therefore, the findings of this study can serve as a base for educational interventions in behavioral changes to prevent of osteoporosis by health authorities.

Are Women Ready to Prevent Osteoporosis? Change Stages for Preventive Behaviors

“…Of the study participants who did not perform these preventive behaviors, more than 80% were in lower stages of change (precontemplation and contemplation) for performing physical activity and 86.4% for calcium intake, which means that they were not ready to change their behaviors. These percentages were much higher than those in different studies in which the percentage reported was between 58.7% and 62.1% for physical activity and 64% for calcium intake (Malekshahi et al, 2016;Sharifirad et al, 2011).…”

“…Evaluating the degree of readiness to change helps segment the population according to their disposition to change and create effective tailored interventions based on the individuals' change stages, which allow them to assume an active role in managing their condition (Malekshahi et al, 2016;Prochaska & Velicer, 1997). Interventions based on the TTM for promoting preventive behaviors have proven to be more effective than interventions that are not based on this model (Dishman et al, 2010;Spencer et al, 2006).…”

Applying the information–motivation–behavioral model to explore the influencing factors of self-management behavior among osteoporosis patients

“…This part of the questionnaire used the 21-item version of the OP Self-Efficacy Scale (OSES) [40], which was developed as a measure of self-efficacy (or confidence) in behaviors related to physical activity and calcium intake [41]. The instrument comprises an exercise subscale (items 1-10) and a calcium intake subscale (items [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. The scoring method for the scale is an 11-point scoring method from 0 ("No Confidence At All") to 10 ("Full Confidence").…”

“…A previous qualitative study showed that pre-requisites for OP patients to adopt self-care behaviors included increasing their hope of living longer, physician's attention to the patient's needs, media promotion, and family support [17]. Other studies have found close relationships between OP knowledge, health beliefs, self-efficacy, and health behaviors [18][19][20]. As a predictor, self-efficacy is supposed to facilitate the formation of behavioral intentions, development of action plans, and initiation of actions [21].…”