Osteoporosis Awareness in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

NCT07725081 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: AFSU-PMR-2023-565
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 94
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Osteoporosis is a common and serious complication of spinal cord injury (SCI), substantially increasing the risk of fragility fractures. Despite this elevated risk, awareness of osteoporosis among individuals living with SCI is not well understood. This cross-sectional observational study assessed the level of osteoporosis awareness in adults with chronic traumatic SCI and examined which demographic, injury-related, and healthcare-related factors were independently associated with awareness. Ninety-four adults with chronic traumatic SCI completed the Turkish version of the Osteoporosis Awareness Scale, along with a structured questionnaire covering education, injury characteristics, healthcare utilization, and personal health-seeking behaviors. The study aimed to identify modifiable factors linked to higher awareness in order to inform future educational interventions and improve osteoporosis prevention and management in this high-risk population.

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI); Attitudes; Practice; Health Knowledge; Osteoporosis; Patient Education as Topic

Keywords

spinal cord injury; osteoporosis; osteoporosis awareness; health knowledge; attitudes; practice; health literacy; patient education; bone density; fracture prevention; rehabilitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Level of osteoporosis awareness

  Osteoporosis awareness was measured using the total score of the Turkish version of the Osteoporosis Awareness Scale (OAS), a 31-item instrument rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 31 to 124. Higher scores indicate greater osteoporosis awareness. The scale was administered once, at study enrollment.

  At a single time point (baseline assessment)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Factors independently associated with osteoporosis awareness

  At a single time point (baseline assessment)

• Osteoporosis-related healthcare utilization and health-seeking behaviors

  At a single time point (baseline assessment)

Study Arms (1)

Adults with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury

Adults (aged 18 years or older) with documented traumatic spinal cord injury of at least 12 months' duration, recruited consecutively during outpatient follow-up. Participants completed the Turkish version of the Osteoporosis Awareness Scale together with a structured questionnaire on demographic, injury-related, and healthcare-related characteristics. No intervention was applied; participants were assessed at a single time point.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 100 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults with chronic traumatic spinal cord injuries who were under outpatient care at a tertiary physical medicine and rehabilitation center in Turkey between December 20, 2023, and March 20, 2024.

You may qualify if:

• Documented traumatic spinal cord injury
• Injury duration of at least 12 months (chronic SCI)
• Age 18 years or older
• Able to provide informed consent and complete questionnaires in Turkish

You may not qualify if:

• Significant cognitive impairment precluding reliable questionnaire completion
• Acute medical illness requiring hospitalization
• Inability to communicate in Turkish
• Non-traumatic etiology of spinal cord injury

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Afyonkarahisar, 03030, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries; Osteoporosis; Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Cord Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Trauma, Nervous System; Wounds and Injuries; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Study Officials

• ERSİN BEŞTAŞ, MD

  Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Faculty of Medicine

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Target Duration: 4 Months
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2026
• First Posted: July 24, 2026
• Study Start: December 20, 2023
• Primary Completion: March 20, 2024
• Study Completion: March 25, 2024
• Last Updated: July 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)