When is a fracture not just a fracture? Exploring emergency nurses' knowledge of osteoporosis in the West of Ireland

Background: Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are set to rise with the global ageing population. Prevalence will continue to significantly impact people's quality of life and healthcare expenditure. Emergency nurses are ideally placed to highlight the importance of screening, and treatment, to the public. For emergency nurses to impart information to patients it is essential they have accurate, evidence-based knowledge. This study aims to determine if emergency nurses’ knowledge of osteoporosis is sufficient to educate the public. Method: A cross sectional descriptive design of 210 emergency nurses using the ‘Osteoporosis Knowledge Questionnaire’ (OKQ) was administered in four hospitals in the West of Ireland. Data was analysed using SPSS v28. Results: A 66 % response rate was achieved. The mean score on the OKQ was 12.13 out of a possible 22. This suggests emergency nurses’ knowledge of osteoporosis is substandard. Level of education has the greatest impact on participants (p = 0.005). Results indicated that emergency nurses acknowledge their responsibility regarding health promotion but lack the knowledge to undertake the role. Conclusion: Emergency nurses play a pivotal role in reducing osteoporosis and fragility fractures, by disseminating information to patients on prevention and management. This study highlighted that educational initiatives are required to address the deficiencies amongst emergency nurses’ understanding of osteoporosis. Enhancing knowledge will inevitably lead to increased public awareness in tackling this global health crisis.