Impact of a Webbased Program on Knowledge About Osteoporosis Prevention Among College Students in China

Osteoporosis is a serious public health problem which threatens millions of people worldwide. Since there is no cure for osteoporosis, prevention strategies such as educational programs are critical. Educational approaches to osteoporosis prevention among Chinese populations have not been substantially studied. The purpose of this study, a web-based educational approach, is to help fill this research void. There are three reasons a web-based approach was chosen for this study: 1) It is a novel approach to osteoporosis prevention in China; 2) There is potential to reach large numbers of people at a relatively low cost; and 3) the web provides suitable mechanism to study a Chinese population in China while matriculating in the U.S. This study was designed to assess the impact of a web-based program on knowledge, health beliefs and self-efficacy about osteoporosis prevention among college students in China. A website was constructed around the following four educational modules, undergirded in behavioral change principles aligned with the Health Belief Model: 1) Knowledge of osteoporosis; 2) Prevention of osteoporosis; 3) Calcium and osteoporosis; and 4) Exercise and osteoporosis. Three pre-validated questionnaires consisting of several sub-scales were posted to the website to pre- and post-test participants' knowledge (Osteoporosis Knowledge Test – OKT), health beliefs (Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale - OHBS) and self-efficacy (Osteoporosis Self Efficacy Scale - OSES). The study was carried out between May and July 2008. One hundred and thirty-one Chinese college students (mean age 22.5 ± 3.0 yrs) completed the program. Post-test results were significantly improved over pre-test results for all survey sub-scales. Unless otherwise indicated, the level of significance for the following subscales' pre-post-test results were P Results indicate that this web-based osteoporosis education program was effective in increasing knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy about osteoporosis among college students in China. The strategies used to develop the program could provide guidance for future studies.