Healthcare Practitioner Diagnosing and Recommending Vitamin D: a Comparative Survey of Attitudes and Practices

Abstract

Background: It is estimated that over 1/3 of the world’s population and 18% of the US population is deficient in vitamin D. Currently, Healthcare Practitioners’ (HCPs) vitamin D testing and recommending beliefs and behaviors are poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate beliefs and practice regarding vitamin D among U.S. HCPs with an interest in nutrition, specifically assessing impact of Integrative Medicine (IM) fellowship training on these practice beliefs and behaviors. Methods: An Internet-based 62-item survey was electronically provided to HCPs identified through the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine database that includes non-Fellows and Fellows of IM. Results: Of 3,984 recipients of the survey, a total of 361 (9.1%) completed the survey. Of respondents, 221 (61.2%) completed an IM Fellowship. The vast majority of respondents (332, 93.5%) believe that vitamin D deficiency is widespread and affects the majority of the population. Three of four HCPs indicate that vitamin D status can be accurately assessed by measuring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (262; 74%), and that vitamin D supplementation improves overall health of patients (277; 77.4%). Most respondents, especially those with fellowship training in integrative medicine, both test and recommend vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) for various chronic conditions and in at-risk populations. Conclusions: There is widespread understanding of the role of vitamin D in health maintenance and in specific health conditions. Overall, primary care, physician-level training, length of time in practice, and IM fellowship training are the most significant predictors of beliefs and practices regarding vitamin D.