Encouraging men with prostate cancer to monitor bone health

This study aimed to compare different strategies of promoting bone health. This study found that educational strategies to improve bone health care are feasible and are associated with improved bone mineral density ordering in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy.

Bone health is important for men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT, treatment to reduce the male hormones, such as testosterone, active in prostate cancer) as treatment for prostate cancer. Men can be at increased risk for osteoporosis or for fractures. There are several strategies in place to improve bone health. Bone health information pamphlets, recommendations to a patient's family physician or support from a bone health coordinator can be used. 

It is unclear which bone health information strategy is best. 

This study aimed to compare different strategies of promoting bone health. It included 119 men who were split into three treatment groups. The first group received a bone health pamphlet and recommendations were given to their family physician. The second group received the pamphlet and a referral to a bone health coordinator. The third group received usual care. A bone mineral density test (BMD) was done within six months and evaluated how dense or strong patient's bones were. 

Patients were more likely to undergo a BMD if they received a pamphlet and a referral to a bone health coordinator (78%) or had a pamphlet and recommendations given to their family physician (56%). Both of these strategies were associated with higher percentages of patients using calcium and vitamin D. 36% of patients who received usual care had a BMD. No men were deemed to be at a high risk of fracture. 

This study found that educational strategies to improve bone health care are feasible and are associated with improved BMD ordering in men receiving ADT.

Increased numbers of patients who receive a BMD test does not necessarily mean that bone health is being maintained or improved after ADT. This should be evaluated over a longer period of time, using the bone mineral density scores.