Brittle bones: ageing or threat of disease exploring women's cultural models of osteoporosis.

AIMS: To explore elderly Danish women's ideas about osteoporosis and the possible threat to health. The authors discuss the issue of risk interpretations in itself, using osteoporosis as a case.

METHODS

A qualitative study based on material from focus-group discussions. Twenty-two 60- to 61-year-old healthy women were selected on the basis of questionnaire answers. Analysis was based on a meaning-centred approach.

RESULTS

Comprehension of osteoporosis was mainly based on images representing various dimensions of osteoporosis. The women drew on experiences with relatives, friends, and health information. Physical appearance seemed to be the most common way of assessing those who had osteoporosis or who might have it in the future. Women's ideas about osteoporosis were influenced by two main, parallel stereotypes of knowledge based on models of ageing with bodily decay and the threat of a preventable disease. They seemed to vacillate, often integrating elements from both models in their comprehension. The scenarios for women with or liable to develop osteoporosis as a disease appeared to be founded on worst-case scenarios.

CONCLUSION

It is suggested that health professionals pay greater attention to people's models and images of risk conditions and carefully decide which images they wish to promote. Health education regarding osteoporosis comprises an ethical obligation to avert the construction of the more extreme and anxiety-producing prototypes. This is especially important when informing individuals about risk and prevention and when decisions on screenings and other medical examinations are made.