Purpose: There are gaps between the treatment guideline and clinical practice of osteoporosis showing low compliance. Although attitude and knowledge of prescriber have been known to be associated with the low compliance in real clinical practice, no study has assessed the knowledge of prescriber regarding osteoporosis in accordance to the level of medical institution. We compared the knowledge on osteoporosis of general practitioners with that of practitioners in a tertiary referral hospital.
Materials and methods: In May 2012, 40 general practitioners and 40 practitioners in a tertiary referral hospital were evaluated using a modified Facts on Osteoporosis Quiz.
Results: The level of knowledge of general practitioners was similar with that of practitioners in a tertiary referral hospital (p=0.386). And, both groups were lack of knowledge of effect of physical exercise.
Conclusion: The level of knowledge on osteoporosis was not associated with the level of medical institute, and the effect of physical exercise should be stressed in an educational program on osteoporosis for practitioners.
Keywords: Osteoporosis; knowledge; level of medical institute.