Factors affecting self-care in women with osteoporosis: a qualitative study with the content analysis approach

Although self-care is known to affect favorably the control and treatment of osteoporosis، the effective factors from the patients’ viewpoint have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to explore factors affecting self-care from the viewpoint of women suffering from osteoporosis. This was a qualitative study conducted with a content analysis approach in 2014، including 15 women consulting the bone mass densitometry centers in Sanandaj، Iran، selected by purposeful sampling. The inclusion criteria were women aged ≥ 50 years suffering from osteoporosis diagnosed definitively at least 6 months before، a T-score index > -2. 5 (lower back or hip bone)، taking drugs upon a physician’s advice، ability to speak، and willingness to participate in the study. Data were collected through face-to-face and group semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using the content analysis method. The accuracy and rigor of the data were confirmed based on such criteria as credibility، confirmability and transferability. Five main categories were extracted including “background factors of the disease”، “hope and weakness in confrontation with the disease”، “role of the physician”، “role of the family”، and “administrative centers and organizations”. Based on further analysis of the data، 11 subcategories were emerged including “cultural issues”، “lack of knowledge”، “non-priority of health”، “weakness and fear”، “hope for the future”، “positive role of the physician”، “negative role of the physician”، “active role of the family”، “passive role of the family”، “role of the media”، and “information centers”. The finding of the study show that the responsibility of women suffering from osteoporosis towards their health is not a single-factor، but rather a multifactorial، phenomenon. Pre-requisites for empowering women to adopt self-care behaviors include increasing their hope to live longer، physician’s attention to the patient’s needs، increasing health promotion programs in the media، and strengthening role of the family (particularly role of men).