Background: Due to an aging population and the high prevalence of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women, this disease is becoming an increasingly important public health issue. Its consequences include reduced mobility, loss of independence, and diminished quality of life. In the age of modern medicine interest in over-the-counter medications and non-pharmacological approaches, including lifestyle changes, dietary interventions, and the use of dietary supplements has been increasing. Despite numerous studies on the effectiveness of individual strategies, there is still no comprehensive overview of the practices that are used by patients for the self-management of their condition, and of their long-term success rate.
Objective: The aim of this master’s thesis was to systematically review the literature addressing osteoporosis self-medication. We focused on reviewing dietary and lifestyle guidelines, recommendations regarding the use of over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, and patient-driven activities that has been reported on social media. Emphasis was placed on identifying the most common interventions patients use alongside the conventional treatment.
Methods: First, we used an advanced search query in the PubMed search engine to identify studies on their effectiveness in case of osteoporosis. The following search query was used: ((osteoporosis) AND (dietary supplement)). Next, we examined qualitative studies on the osteoporosis self-management practices. The search query was used to retrieve qualitative articles on this topic:((osteoporosis) AND (self-management)) AND (qualitative) NOT (clinical study)). Finally, we explored the field of social media, analysing patient posts in groups dedicated to discussions on osteoporosis. We joined four groups and identified recurring topics with the use of keywords.
Results: The analysis of clinical guidelines revealed considerable variation among countries. Qualitative studies indicated that patients often take the initiative to seek additional information yet face difficulties in applying recommendations due to lack of clarity. Clinical studies confirm the effectiveness of calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, and other compounds in improving bone mineral density. On social media, patients exchange advice, which partially compensates for the lack of practical guidance in clinical settings.
Conclusion: The results indicated that patients perceive self-management as an important and inevitable part of coping with the disease. Coordinated approaches, individualized counseling, and the integration of evidence-based information into clinical practice are necessary.
Keywords: osteoporosis, non-pharmacological interventions, self-management, dietary supplements, bone mineral density
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