Messages to doctors and nurses working with people with osteoporosis

We asked the people we talked to, to suggest ways that health professionals could make things better for those living with osteoporosis. Here is what they said:

Communication and attitudes

  • Do preventative work. Make us more aware of osteoporosis, particularly those over fifty.
  • Be compassionate and sensitive, sometimes we are in a great deal of pain.
  • Make sure that the chair that your patient sits in is comfortable.
  • During examinations treat us with care. We are frightened of having fractures.
  • Give us the opportunity to talk to you, particularly if we are elderly.
  • Be sensitive to our problems and our needs in living with a chronic illness.
  • Allow people to do things in his/her own time. Don’t rush them.
  • Reassure us when you see we are frightened and nervous.
  • Offer assistance, people do not often ask for it.
  • More TLC (tender loving care).
  • Treat us as somebody who is important.
  • Be friendly.
  • Be knowledgeable.
  • Back pain should be investigated. Don’t send us home with painkillers.
  • Regularly monitor our treatment. We want more than just repeat prescriptions
  • Send us for regular DXA scans
  • Don’t let us cope alone. Organise patient-information groups, meetings
  • Think creatively when you are listening to someone’s symptoms
  • Give calcium supplements to young people.

Allow people time to get up from a lying position after an examination. They will be slower and…

Age at interview 76

Gender Female

Age at diagnosis 57

View profile

Provide ongoing support for the newly diagnosed and opportunities for people to share their…

Age at interview 60

Gender Female

Age at diagnosis 59

View profile

Increase awareness and preventative measures amongst young people.

Age at interview 63

Gender Female

Age at diagnosis 45

View profile

Advice and information about osteoporosis

  • Give us more information and support particularly if we are newly diagnosed.
  • Tell us everything we need to know about our condition. Don’t send us home with just a leaflet
  • Suggest other sources of support and information
  • Give more advice on exercise
  • GPs should learn more about osteoporosis.

Provide written information including a list of resources of where to find out further…

Age at interview 62

Gender Female

Age at diagnosis 60

View profile

When telling a patient their diagnosis, spend more time giving them explanation and information.

Age at interview 66

Gender Female

Age at diagnosis 58

View profile

Communicating with health professionals

Here, the people we talked to discuss their health care experiences. They talk about communicating with health professionals and the care, advice and information they...

Impact on home life due to osteoporosis

The extent to which osteoporosis affected the domestic life of those we talked to varied depending on the severity of their condition. Some people, particularly...