The authors had earlier conducted a retrospective cohort study from 2008 to 2011 in Jeju Island, among 945 hip fracture patients above 50 years of age. Of these 945 patients, 344 patients (36.4%) underwent a bone mineral density test and 218 patients (23.1%) received treatment for osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a patient education program could improve osteoporosis management after hip fracture. The data of the previous study was used for comparison.

From November 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015, 190 patients above 50 years of age who were admitted for hip fractures at six different hospitals, were enrolled in the present study. During the hospitalization period, patients underwent education sessions and were provided brochures. Patients were evaluated for diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis at six months after discharge and were followed-up for at least a year.

Of the 222 patients with hip fractures, 190 patients (37 men, 153 women) were enrolled at six hospitals in 2015. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed on 115 patients (60.5%) and 92 patients (48.4%) were prescribed medication for osteoporosis at the time of discharge. A total of 43.7% and 40.2% of the patients were found to be compliant with osteoporosis medication at 6 months and 12 months follow-up respectively.

This interventional multicenter study demonstrated that a patient education program in patients with hip fractures can improve compliance to osteoporosis medication up to 12 months of follow-up.