Evaluating Ways to Improve Medication Use Among People With Osteoporosis

Mailed education materials on osteoporosis and medication use over a 1-year period

A telephone coaching program that will involve twelve monthly 5- to 10-minute phone calls from a health educator who is specially trained in osteoporosis. The phone calls will involve coaching participants on behavioral reinforcement strategies that will help them to continue taking their medications on schedule; phone calls will also include specially tailored education on osteoporosis and fracture prevention. A close family member or friend of the participant will also be contacted via phone two times during the study by the health educator. During these phone calls, the family member or friend will learn how to support the participant in such a way that medication adherence is more likely.

Doctors of participants will receive written educational information on the rates of medication adherence, implications of nonadherence, and methods for improving adherence among people with osteoporosis. Doctors will also receive alerts on any patients who are not filling their medication prescriptions.