A geriatric patient asks a nurse about the significance of a bone mineral densitometry (DEXA)T-score measurement of -0.75.What response by the nurse is most accurate?
A)"A negative score on DEXA indicates that you are at a much higher risk of sustaining fractures because your bone density is lower than average."
B)"DEXA compares the amount of bone you have with that a young adult of the same gender with peak bone mass.A T-score above -1 is considered normal."
C)"This kind of scan is not very reliable for geriatric patients.You need to know your Z-score to interpret the significance of this test."
D)"Your T-score of -0.75 means you have osteoporosis, and you will need to take medication to improve your bone mass."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This response is the most accurate because it explains the meaning of the T-score in relation to the average bone density of a young adult of the same gender. It also clarifies that a score above -1 is considered normal, which helps the patient understand the significance of their score. The other options either overstate the patient's risk or misunderstand the interpretation of the DEXA score.

A Geriatric Patient Asks a Nurse About the Significance of a Bone