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Healthy, Well-Nourished Population
Bone Builders
Issue
It is estimated that one out of every two women over 50 will develop
osteoporosis. Older men have also been identified as possibly at risk.
This silent disease weakens bones, eventually causing fractures, disability
and loss of quality of life for millions of people, especially the elderly.
It is the number two reason for women’s admissions into nursing
homes. More than 28 million Americans who have osteoporosis or at high
risk because of low bone mass; eighty percent of those affected are
women. Although osteoporosis is both treatable and preventable, studies
show that awareness is quite low among the U.S. population. Simple changes
in diet and exercise can improve calcium levels in the body and strengthen
bones before osteoporosis occurs.
With the large baby boom generation now moving into the beginning life
stage susceptible to osteoporosis, education and prevention is more
important than ever.
What has been done?
A collaborative program called “Bone Builders” was developed
as part of the University of Arizona partnership between Cooperative
Extension in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the UA
College of Public Health. The program brings together several public
and private partners to reduce risk for osteoporosis among women statewide
ages 35-55 by increasing their awareness of the risks of osteoporosis
and ways to prevent it from developing. The program recruits and retains
community peer educators who teach local, community classes, and seeks
to identify high risk women in each community and encourage them to
get basic x-ray or ultrasound screening for bone density.
In 2000, eight of Arizona’s 15 counties had Bone Builders programs;
more are on the way. Since the project began, 80 volunteers have been
trained in Maricopa County alone, and 53 from other counties, including
apache, Gila, Pima, Pinal, Mohave, Yuma, and Santa Cruz. An updated
web site, was developed. In 1999-2000 the Bone Builders program was
taught to hundreds of community groups statewide, with 5813 people participating.
Bone Builders displays were at 68 health fairs, community fair, health
spa, two statewide conferences and communities libraries directly teaching
more than 3100 women.
Impact
Bone Builders partners screened 1143 women in 2000 with ultrasound technology
on a volunteer basis. More than 50,000 Like Mother, Like Daughter flyers
and 2000 posters have been distributed through businesses, doctor offices,
day care centers, churches, schools districts, Women’s Expo and
numerous women’s groups. More than 500,000 women have been reached
through feature media articles and TV segments.
In Maricopa County, Bone Builder education volunteers rated the training
curriculum 4.7 (out of 5 point schedule with 5 excellent) and the total
training as 4.8 (out of 5 point schedule with 5 excellent and 0 being
poor.) Participants rated their knowledge before the training as 3.1
and as a result of the training 4.6 (out of 5 point schedule with 5
high). Members of the public taking the education classes taught by
the volunteers in 2000 rated their knowledge as an average of 2.41 before
the sessions and after the classes an average of 4.5 (out of 5 point
schedule with 5 high). The number of hits on the Bone Builders web site
averaged 750-800 users per month.
Funding
UA Cooperative Extension; UA College of Public Health; Maricopa County
Department of Public Health Services; Office of Nutrition Services,
Dairy Council of Arizona; Mesa Lutheran Hospital, Arizona Osteoporosis
Coalition; Danner Health Arizona; Motorola, Arrowhead Hospital; Phoenix
Center for Clinical Research; Sun Health
Contact
Sharon Hoelscher-Day, extension educator
University of Arizona, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension
4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix, AZ 85040-8807
Telephone: (602) 470-8086, FAX: (602) 470-8092
Email: shday@ag.arizona.edu
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