Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care practitioners in Saudi Arabia, with regard to prevention of vitamin D deficiency in infancy.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare practitioners in Saudi Arabia, with regard to vitamin D supplementation.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare practitioners in the Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia between January 2015 and December 2016. A questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitude and practice with regard to prevention of vitamin D deficiency was distributed to 100 healthcare practitioners.

RESULTS: There was a good understanding of the importance of vitamin D deficiency; and overall practices were good. The average knowledge score was 4.75/8 (range 2-7), largely due to 85% of recipients identifying sun exposure between 6-7 am as the optimal time.  There was a lack of understanding also, that as little as 10 minutes exposure is of benefit.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for distribution of the recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in KSA, as widely as possible.  This study suggests that healthcare practitioners understand the importance of correction of vitamin D deficiency.  Deficiencies in knowledge with regard to sun exposure were identified.  Dissemination of this information is, therefore, likely to impact significantly on the practice of a receptive clinical population.