# Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding osteoporosis among hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

**Authors:** Xiaoyan Chen, Rongfang Xu, Xiangyang Sun, Xianghua Huang, Lingli Chen, Jibing Liu, Xinghui Li, Lulu Pan, Ying Cheng

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1741278 · 2026-03-05

## TL;DR

This study finds that hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients have poor knowledge and moderate practices regarding osteoporosis.

## Contribution

The study introduces a structural equation model to analyze how knowledge influences attitudes and practices related to osteoporosis in HR+ breast cancer patients.

## Key findings

- HR+ breast cancer patients had insufficient knowledge about osteoporosis.
- Knowledge directly influenced attitudes, and both knowledge and attitudes influenced practices.
- Patients showed moderate attitudes but suboptimal practices regarding osteoporosis.

## Abstract

To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning osteoporosis among hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer patients.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November, 2023, to March, 2024 among HR+ breast cancer patients to assess their KAP regarding osteoporosis. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the relationships among the KAP dimensions.

A total of 758 HR+ breast cancer patients were invited, 610 completed the questionnaire (response/completion rate: 80.5%), and 491 questionnaires were retained for the final analysis after prespecified data cleaning (analytic inclusion rate: 64.8%). HR+ breast cancer patients had insufficient knowledge (mean 9.69, SD 5.93), moderate attitudes (mean 29.50, SD 4.55), and moderate practices (mean 35.85, SD 4.75). SEM showed that knowledge directly influenced attitudes (β = 0.509, P < 0.001), while both knowledge (β = 0.585, P < 0.001) and attitudes (β = 0.402, P < 0.001) had direct effects on practices.

HR+ breast cancer patients exhibit insufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and suboptimal practices regarding osteoporosis.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** osteoporosis (MONDO:0005298), breast cancer (MONDO:0004989)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** NR4A1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1) [NCBI Gene 3164] {aka GFRP1, HMR, N10, NAK-1, NGFIB, NP10}
- **Diseases:** osteoporosis (MESH:D010024), breast cancer (MESH:D001943)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12999964/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12999964