Osteoporosis Patients with Fall-Related Injuries in Residential Environments: Challenges for Social Work

Abstract

The study describes the osteoporosis patient’s need of support from medical social workers because of risks and injury events in residential environments. The study includes qualitative interviews of patients and a survey of medical social worker visibility in the media. Findings show that patients feel a lack of knowledge, recognition, and moral respect from the environment. Support from a medical social worker is significant, and activation in a patient association and an osteoporosis school is seen as employing valuable information channels. However, these have a fairly limited visibility in the media, when it comes to describing support opportunities and preventive work.