ObjectiveTo investigate Shanghai community residents' cognition of related knowledge of osteoporosis, its prevention self-efficacy, its health promotion needs and its self management behavior for prevention. And the effect of community advocacy intervention is to be investigated too.

MethodsFrom 20 community health service centers in Shanghai were included a series of 2003 visiting residents according to the sequence of their visiting numbers. And a self-designed "Shanghai Community Residents Osteoporosis Health Promotion Questionnaire" was adopted for the investigation.

ResultsThe city community medical residents proved to be lower in osteoporosis related knowledge level, with an average of 10.9 points achieved (out of 26 points). The sports knowledge score was lower than that of calcium absorption and the risk factors in osteoporosis; osteoporosis self-efficacy full score was 10 points, but only an average of 5.8 points was achieved; 63.3% of the community residents had osteoporosis health promotion needs; less than 50% of the residents had better osteoporosis prevention self-management behavior.

ConclusionThere is urgent need for community residents to strengthen their knowledge related to osteoporosis with emphasis on correct sports knowledge, improve osteoporosis prevention knowledge and self-efficacy, and ultimately promote the nurturance of good osteoporosis prevention self-management behavior.