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Medication support for patients

Medication support for patients

BoneMed Online

BoneMed Online is a free digital service from the Royal Osteoporosis Society that supports patients in the UK that are starting or switching osteoporosis medicines.  

What is BoneMed Online?

The service provides clear, trusted guidance tailored to each patient’s prescribed medicine, along with practical tips and regular check-ins over 12 months. It helps patients understand their treatment, feel confident, and stay on track. Early results show:   

  • 79% of BoneMed Online users feel more confident taking their medicine 
  • 91% are taking their medicine as prescribed (4-month survey) 

Refer your patients to BoneMed Online today

How BoneMed Online Works

1. Quick sign‑up: Patients complete a 3-minute online questionnaire to tailor the information and support to their prescribed osteoporosis medicine and confidence level. 

2. Medicine-specific support: Patients receive a tailored medicine summary with clear guidance on:

  • what to expect from treatment 
  • how to take their medicine 
  • how it works 
  • possible side effects 
  • practical tips, short videos and step-by-step guidance. 

3. Ongoing support: Patients receive six friendly emails over 12 months to provide ongoing support and reassurance. 

If a patient changes medicine, they can simply repeat the survey to start a new, tailored support journey. 

Why BoneMed Online matters 

  • Poor adherence: Only 30% of patients are still on treatment after one year (FLS-DB report 2026). 
  • Common barriers: Many patients stop their treatment due to concerns about side effects, practical challenges, or uncertainty about the benefits. 
  • The solution: BoneMed Online provides ongoing support between medical appointments, helping patients feel reassured, confident and motivated to continue their medicine.

Benefits for healthcare professionals

  • Supports patients between appointments  
  • Boosts patients’ confidence and adherence  
  • Easy to recommend – no extra workload for you  
  • Complements consultations, medicine reviews and routine care  
  • Reduces follow-up queries.  

How to signpost your patients  

It’s quick and easy to direct your patients to BoneMed Online: 

  • Ask your patients to register online at theros.org.uk/joinbonemed 
  • Display waiting room posters - patients can scan the QR code or use the web link. 
  • Hand out BoneMed Online referral cards during consultations - each card includes a QR code and web link. 

Free resources 

For your patients: 

  • Waiting room poster - Print and display our waiting room posters to raise awareness in your clinical setting. Available to print in colour or black and white
  • BoneMed Online referral cards – Give to your patients for quick and easy access. Order here

For you and your colleagues: 

How BoneMed Online was developed

BoneMed Online was developed by the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s expert health information team, with academic input from Keele University, research insights from Professor Rob Horne (UCL), and behavioural science support from Personia Health Ltd. The service is generously funded by the Wigoder Family Foundation. 

What is BoneMed Online? 

BoneMed Online is a free, UK digital support service from the Royal Osteoporosis Society for patients starting or switching osteoporosis medicines. It provides clear, medicine-specific information, practical tips, and regular check-ins over 12 months to support patients between appointments and help them stay on their treatment. 

Who is BoneMed Online for? 

BoneMed Online is for adults starting or switching and osteoporosis medicines in the UK and covers all the available treatment types. Patients can also share the service with family or carers who support them with their medicine.  

How does BoneMed Online work? 

  • Patients complete a short survey to tailor the information and support to their medicine and confidence level. 
  • They receive a tailored medicine summary which includes clear information and practical tips on what to expect, how to take their medicine, how it works, and possible side effects. 
  • Regular check-ins: Patients receive six helpful emails over 12 months to provide extra guidance ongoing support.  

Is there a cost? 

No – the service is completely free for patients and healthcare professionals. Patients are offered ROS membership during the email journey, but that is entirely optional. 

Is it easy for patients to use? 

Absolutely. The service is designed to be user-friendly and 91% of BoneMed Online users said the guidance was easy to understand. 

How does BoneMed Online support patients?

The service helps patients understand their treatment, feel more confident about taking it, and stay on their medicine. 79% of BoneMed Online users report feeling more confident and 91% are taking their medicine as prescribed (4-month survey). 

How does BoneMed Online benefit healthcare professionals? 

BoneMed Online supports patients between appointments by answering common questions about osteoporosis medications. It helps improve adherence to prescribed treatments and reduces routine follow-up queries. The service is quick and easy to signpost to patients, so it complements your clinical care without adding to your workload. 

Does BoneMed Online recommend an osteoporosis treatment? 

No. BoneMed Online doesn’t prescribe or recommend osteoporosis medicines. It gives patients clear, trusted information and support for medicines they’ve already been prescribed, helping them feel confident and stay on track. 

Does BoneMed Online replace clinical advice? 

No. BoneMed Online is designed to complement clinical care, not replace it. Patients are advised to contact their GP, pharmacist, or healthcare professional if they have specific concerns about their medicine or symptoms. 

How do I signpost patients to BoneMed Online? 

Simply share the website link, referral card or poster. Patients can sign up themselves in around three minutes by selecting their medicine and entering a few details. 

Does referring patients take extra time for healthcare professionals? 

No. There is no formal referral process. Signposting simply involves sharing the website link or providing a referral card or poster. 

What if a patient changes medicine? 

No problem. They simply complete the survey again to start a new, tailored journey for their new medicine. 

How is patient data used? 

We use the information patients provide to tailor the information and support they receive and to help us evaluate the service. Patients can unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy for details. Privacy Policy. 

How is BoneMed Online different from Osteoporosis Options? 

You may have heard of Osteoporosis Options, Keele’s suite of tools that help patients and clinicians make shared decisions about osteoporosis medicines. 

  • Osteoporosis Options supports shared decision-making at the point of recommending a treatment. 
  • BoneMed Online supports patients after prescribing - helping them to feel confident, stay on their medicine, and address common concerns. 

How was BoneMed Online developed? 

The service was created by our expert Health Information team, clinical experts, and people living with osteoporosis. We also had academic input from Keele University, Professor Rob Horne (UCL), and Personia Health Ltd to make sure it’s evidence-based and easy to use. 

How can I provide feedback? 

Ready to signpost your patients? Get started today – refer your patients to BoneMed Online theros.org.uk/joinbonemed