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Building for better bones: evaluation of a clinical pathway in the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures
  1. Saey Sofie1,
  2. Piette Yves2,
  3. Verstraete Barbara3,
  4. Lambert Margareta4,
  5. Van Hoeyweghen Raf4,
  6. Vandekerckhove Bruno3,
  7. Haspeslagh Marc5,
  8. Grootaert Veerle1
  1. 1Department of Pharmacy, AZ Sint Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Bruges, Belgium
  2. 2Department of Rheumatology, AZ Sint Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Bruges, Belgium
  3. 3Department of Orthopedic Surgery, AZ Sint Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Bruges, Belgium
  4. 4Department of Geriatrics, AZ Sint Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Bruges, Belgium
  5. 5AZ Sint Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Bruges, Belgium
  1. Correspondence to Sofie Saey, Department of Pharmacy, AZ Sint Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Ruddershove 10, Bruges 8000, Belgium; saey_sofie{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective Osteoporosis is a common disease that is underdiagnosed and undertreated. A multidisciplinary intervention may improve the identification and treatment of osteoporosis and may consequently prevent secondary fractures.

Method Retrospective, single-centre study comparing attitude to screening and treatment of patients admitted to the orthopaedic unit of the general hospital AZ Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV (Belgium) before and after the implementation of a clinical pathway.

Results A total of 172 patients (86 before and 86 after) were included in this study. The implementation of the pathway resulted in an increase in bone mineral density tests performed, an increment in the number of referrals to a specialist in the field of osteoporosis, and an increase in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Conclusion The implementation of a clinical pathway coordinated and evaluated by a clinical pharmacist improved the identification, referral and treatment of osteoporosis in patients hospitalised due to low-impact fractures.

  • CLINICAL PHARMACY
  • PHARMACOTHERAPY
  • PRIMARY CARE
  • PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
  • RHEUMATOLOGY

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