Osteoporosis and premature ovarian insufficiency: geographic variation in clinicians’ and consumers’ knowledge gaps and barriers to care

Purpose: To determine whether geographic variation exists in osteoporosis knowledge, management, and barriers to care in the setting of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), among general practitioners (GPs) and women with POI. Methods: Australian GPs completed an online questionnaire regarding osteoporosis knowledge, barriers to care and educational preferences for managing osteoporosis in POI. Women with POI/early menopause (EM) completed an online questionnaire regarding osteoporosis knowledge, risk factors and health beliefs. Clinicians and consumers in metropolitan areas were compared to those in rural areas. Results: Of 688 GP respondents, 62.2% practised in major capital cities, 13.1% in major regional cities, 7.8% in regional centres, 8.7% in rural areas and 8.1% in remote areas. Mean ± SD osteoporosis knowledge score was 9.1 ± 1.5/13, with no difference by location. Forty-one percent of GPs reported barriers to care which varied by location. Of 316 women with POI/EM, 61.1% lived in metropolitan, 22.5% in regional, 11.7% in rural and 4.4% in remote locations. The mean osteoporosis knowledge score was 8.2 ± 3.1/20, with lower scores in women living in rural and remote versus metropolitan locations (difference − 1.3; 95% CI − 2.3, − 0.25; p = 0.02). Women in rural areas were less likely to use vitamin D supplements and more likely to have a family history of osteoporosis (both p < 0.05). Conclusions: GP knowledge gaps and specific, location-dependent care barriers for osteoporosis in POI were identified. Geographic differences in osteoporosis knowledge and risk factors exist in women with POI/EM. These factors require consideration when designing programs to improve bone health in POI.