awareness of vitamin d deficiency among at-risk patients维生素d缺乏高危患者的意识.pdfVIP

Alemu and Varnam BMC Research Notes 2012, 5:17 /1756-0500/5/17 SHORT REPORT Open Access Awareness of vitamin D deficiency among at-risk patients Esubalew Alemu1* and Robert Varnam2 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 likely to have heard about vitamin D. 54% of participants were unaware of the commonest symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. 34% did not expose their skin other than their face in the last one year, and 11% did not include vitamin D rich foods in their diet. Conclusion: The majority of at-risk patients are aware of vitamin D; nevertheless, there is a significant lack of knowledge among older people, who have higher morbidity. A programme of targeted education of the at-risk population is recommended. Background patients from Birmingham revealed vitamin D deficiency Understanding of the role of vitamin D has been evol- prevalence of 1 in 4 Afro-Caribbeans and 1 in 3 Asians ving since its discovery in the early 20th century from compared to 1 in 8 Caucasians [17