Awareness of patients receiving bisphosphonates: a cross-sectional study

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of patients using bisphosphonates (BP) regarding their risks and benefits. Sixty-five patients using BP were included. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 13 questions, including sociodemographic and general information on BP. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a binomial test was used to assess patient knowledge about BP, considering a 5% significance level. Fifty-nine (90.2%) patients were unaware or had never heard of BP drugs and only 3 (4.6%) knew their indications. Only 6 patients (9.2%) said they knew about the oral complications caused by BP. Sixty-three patients (96.9%) said they were not referred to the dentist before starting BP treatment. Patients using BP do not have satisfactory knowledge regarding the risks and benefits of BP. Physicians and dentists must be prepared to inform and counsel BP users about their adverse effects and possible risk factors. Our results emphasize the importance of public policies, whether individual or collective, to be taken to increase knowledge about BP to avoid medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

摘要 本研究旨在评估使用双膦酸盐（bisphosphonates，BP）的患者对该类药物风险与获益的认知情况。本研究共纳入65名使用BP的患者，所有受试者均填写一份包含13个问题的自填式问卷，内容涵盖社会人口学特征及BP相关基本信息。研究采用描述性统计方法对数据进行分析，并以5%为显著性水平，通过二项检验评估患者对BP的认知水平。结果显示：59例（90.2%）患者对BP类药物不知情或从未听闻，仅3例（4.6%）知晓其临床适应证；仅6例（9.2%）表示了解BP引发的口腔并发症；63例（96.9%）称在开始BP治疗前未被转诊至口腔科。结论：使用BP的患者对该类药物的风险与获益认知水平欠佳。临床医师与口腔科医师应做好相关宣教工作，向BP使用者告知其不良反应及潜在风险因素。本研究结果强调，需制定个体或群体性公共政策，以提升大众对BP的认知，从而避免药物相关性颌骨骨坏死（medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw）的发生。