Support Group Intervention for Women with Osteoporosis

Vertebral osteoporotic fractures can cause severe pain and can impair function and reduce quality of life. The purpose of this research was to test the efficacy of an intervention to improve health-related quality of life of women with spinal fractures secondary to osteoporosis. The intervention for this study was an 8-week educational support group, along with weekly telephone calls. A convenience sample of 25 women with spinal fractures was recruited and matched with a control group of 25 subjects. Study questionnaires were administered at the beginning and end of the 8-week session to all 50 subjects. The results of the questionnaires indicated moderate health-related quality of life at baseline, with only small changes in scores at the end of the observation period. Future research in this area should include a combination of rehabilitative approaches to improve quality of life for women with spinal fractures due to osteoporosis.