National Action Plan for Bone Health - Osteogenesis Imperfecta ...

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Developing a National Action
Plan for Bone Health
Assessing Progress and Charting a Course
In 2008, the National Coalition for Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases (also
known as the ‘Bone Coalition’) commissioned several studies, including an environmental
scan and a literature review, to assess progress made toward reaching the goals
of the 2004 Surgeon General’s report. In interviews with 24 opinion leaders, the study
found that while progress had been made in building the science base, much less had
been accomplished in terms of increasing awareness, integrating messages, or changing
paradigms.
Environmental Scan Key Findings
Positive achievements included the following:
n Development of pharmaceuticals to maintain or increase bone density
n Use of DXA screening
n Advances in the assessment of risk factors, such as development of the FRAX® tool
n Increased recognition of the importance of vitamin D in promoting bone health
n Greater understanding of the factors regulating bone cells and development of
monoclonal antibody therapy
Negative findings included the following:
n Little has been done to change the treatment paradigm
n Public education programs have been inadequate in raising public awareness
n Health care professionals receive inadequate training about bone health
n Little has been done to integrate messages about bone health with broader messages about
the importance of healthy lifestyles in preventing an array of chronic disease problems
National Coalition
for Osteoporosis and
Related Bone Diseases
n American Society for Bone
and Mineral Research
n National Osteoporosis
Foundation
n Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Foundation
n The Paget Foundation
National Action Plan for Bone Health:
Recommendations from the Summit for a National Action Plan for Bone Health
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