World Osteoporosis Day

 

Every year, in celebration of World Osteoporosis Day, the Osteoporosis Research Center at the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences conducts various activities. These include public education initiatives regarding osteoporosis as well as professional training (such as workshops, seminars, conferences, and symposia) that are regularly organized in Iran.

Events related to World Osteoporosis Day are held each year under a specific theme. These actions aim to combat the increasing prevalence of osteoporosis and enhance public health. In fact, commemorating World Osteoporosis Day serves as an opportunity to raise public awareness about osteoporosis and mobilize all available resources in this area. Given the importance of education and public awareness concerning this silent disease, the Osteoporosis Research Center conducts several activities each year on World Osteoporosis Day, summarized as follows:

 

Public Education Initiatives

These initiatives aim to educate the public about osteoporosis, targeting the general population. One key action is translating educational materials published by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) into Persian and sharing them through social media, the Osteoporosis Research Center's website, the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute (EMRI), and medical universities across the country. Additionally, the center distributes educational materials such as brochures for children and adults, as well as creating books and pamphlets to raise awareness about osteoporosis on World Osteoporosis Day.

To achieve the goal of public education, face-to-face training on the importance of bone health for the general public and using educational games like a large-sized snakes and ladders game are other significant actions undertaken by EMRI. Furthermore, press conferences and social media campaigns against osteoporosis are also part of the center's efforts. Recently, a year-long social campaign has been launched on Instagram, providing various educational content for Persian speakers to increase awareness of osteoporosis. Each year, posters are also published to promote public education, with some titles including: "Bone fractures take away your independence," "This is osteoporosis: when a sneeze can break your bones," "This is osteoporosis: when a fall on a slippery surface changes your life," and "This is osteoporosis: his height has decreased, and he is as fragile as glass," as well as "This is osteoporosis: his hip broke after slipping on the carpet."

 

Specialized and Professional Educational Initiatives

These initiatives aim to educate doctors, paramedics, and specialists about this silent disease, focusing on prevention, timely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment for patients with osteoporosis. One important action taken by the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute at Tehran University of Medical Sciences is organizing fundamental courses on osteoporosis, providing participants with the latest knowledge on density, diagnosis, and management of the condition. Annual symposiums on osteoporosis are another significant effort by this center in the realm of specialized professional education. Additionally, the publication of specialized guidelines on osteoporosis and the distribution of educational materials are further steps taken in this regard.

The institute also conducts annual lectures and scientific panels on various topics related to osteoporosis, along with webinars and specialized seminars aimed at achieving the goal of educating healthcare professionals.

It is essential to understand that lifestyle modifications can prevent the onset of osteoporosis and, if affected, help manage its complications, such as fractures. Moreover, lifestyle changes can improve skeletal muscle integrity and balance. It is hoped that the extensive efforts made each year on World Osteoporosis Day by EMRI will enhance community health and improve the knowledge of doctors, paramedics, and specialists in this field across the country. Notably, most educational programs, both public and specialized, are conducted online or virtually.

 

In the year 2023:

The World Osteoporosis Day campaign in 2023 was held with the slogan "Let's Build Better Bones," aimed at enhancing public knowledge about methods for preventing osteoporosis and strengthening and caring for it in patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

 

 

In the year 2022:

This year's slogan for World Osteoporosis Day (October 20) is "Let's Take Steps for Our Bone Health." The translation of educational resources published by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) into Persian and their wide sharing through social media, the Research Institute of Endocrine Sciences website, as well as coordinated efforts in the country's medical universities in collaboration with the Non-communicable Disease Management Office, are among the programs carried out during National Bone Health Week.

In addition, the publication and distribution of educational materials, such as brochures for children and adults, and the preparation of books and booklets to raise awareness about osteoporosis are other initiatives that were held nationwide in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education during National Bone Health Week.