Awareness of vitamin D deficiency among at-risk patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vitamin D deficiency is a significant problem for a growing proportion of the UK population. Individuals with dark or covered skin are at particularly high risk due to ethno-cultural, environmental and genetic factors. We assessed the level of awareness of vitamin D deficiency among at-risk patients in order to identify groups most in need of education.

Findings

A cross-sectional survey using a piloted questionnaire was conducted among consecutive at-risk patients without a diagnosis of Vitamin D deficiency arriving at a large inner city general practice in the North West of England over a five day period. The survey was completed by 221 patients. The mean age was 35 years. 28% of them (n = 61) had never heard about vitamin D. Older patients (p = 0.003) were less

SUBMITTER: Alemu E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3284868 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature