Bone health literacy and risk perception in perimenopausal to early postmenopausal breast cancer patients: the mediating role of self-efficacy

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the level of bone health literacy among breast cancer patients in perimenopause and early menopause and to examine the mediating role of osteoporosis self-efficacy in the relationship between risk perception and bone health literacy. METHODS: This study is descriptive. A convenience sampling method was employed to recruit 323 breast cancer patients in perimenopause and early menopause from two tertiary hospitals in Shaanxi and Shandong Provinces, China, between March 2025 and May 2025. The primary outcome, bone health literacy, was assessed using the Bone Health Literacy Scale. Secondary outcomes, including risk perception and osteoporosis self-efficacy, were measured using their respective scales. Mediation analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26.0. RESULTS: The mean bone health literacy score among breast cancer patients in perimenopause and early menopause was 44.00 (38.00, 48.00), with a proficiency rate of 10.84%. Both risk perception and osteoporosis self-efficacy were positively correlated with bone health literacy (P<0.05). Osteoporosis self-efficacy was found to partially mediate the relationship between risk perception and bone health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Bone health literacy among breast cancer patients in perimenopause and early menopause remains suboptimal. The findings of this study may inform the development of targeted intervention programs aimed at improving bone health literacy and ultimately enhancing quality of life.