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Bone Quality: Educational Tools for Patients, Physicians, and Educators

  • Symposium: Bone Quality: From Bench to Bedside
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

Defining bone quality remains elusive. From a patient perspective bone quality can best be defined as an individual’s likelihood of sustaining a fracture. Fracture risk indicators and performance measures can help clinicians better understand individual fracture risk. Educational resources such as the Web can help clinicians and patients better understand fracture risk, communicate effectively, and make decisions concerning diagnosis and treatment.

Questions/purposes

We examined four questions: What tools can be used to identify individuals at high risk for fracture? What clinical performance measures are available? What strategies can help ensure that patients at risk for fracture are identified? What are some authoritative Web sites for educating providers and patients about bone quality?

Methods

Using Google, PUBMED, and trademark names, we reviewed the literature using the terms “bone quality” and “osteoporosis education.” Web site legitimacy was evaluated using specific criteria. Educational Web sites were limited to English-language sites sponsored by nonprofit organizations

Results

The Fracture Risk Assessment Tool® (FRAX®) and the Fracture Risk Calculator (FRC) are reliable means of assessing fracture risk. Performance measures relating to bone health were developed by the AMA convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement® and are included in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. In addition, quality measures have been developed by the Joint Commission. Strategies for identifying individuals at risk include designating responsibility for case finding and intervention, evaluating secondary causes of osteoporosis, educating patients and providers, performing cost-effectiveness evaluation, and using information technology. An abundance of authoritative educational Web sites exists for providers and patients.

Conclusions

Effective clinical indicators, performance measures, and educational tools to better understand and identify fracture risk are now available. The next challenge is to encourage broader use of these resources so that individuals at high risk for fracture will not just be identified but will also adhere to therapy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Junaid Shams BA, Allison B. Spitzer BA & Laura L. Tosi MD

  2. Bone Health Program, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA

    Ann M. Kennelly BA & Laura L. Tosi MD

Authors
  1. Junaid Shams BA
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  2. Allison B. Spitzer BA
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  3. Ann M. Kennelly BA
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  4. Laura L. Tosi MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura L. Tosi MD.

Additional information

One of the authors (LLT) serves on the Own the Bone Steering Committee of the American Orthopaedic Association. This campaign is mentioned in the article.

This work was performed at Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.

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Shams, J., Spitzer, A.B., Kennelly, A.M. et al. Bone Quality: Educational Tools for Patients, Physicians, and Educators. Clin Orthop Relat Res 469, 2248–2259 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1809-y

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