Counseling about vitamin D supplementation for infants: results of a survey of pediatric and family medicine physicians in Connecticut
Silk, H.; Thiede, S.; Trojian, T.
Connecticut Medicine 71(3): 133-137
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-6178 PMID: 17405394 Document Number: 605814
Vitamin D is essential to the health of children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently updated its recommendations for vitamin D supplementation. The current level of vitamin D counseling for infants by family medicine physicians and pediatricians in Connecticut is unknown. Some 841 self-administered surveys were sent to pediatric primary care providers in Connecticut to evaluate the frequency of counseling regarding vitamin D supplementation for six- to 12-month old children. Other minerals and age groups were included in the survey to prevent bias. The response rate was 34.8%. Pediatricians reported higher levels (88.6%) of counseling regularly about vitamin D for infants compared to family medicine physicians (52.3%). Linear regression analysis indicated that awareness and perceived importance of vitamin D recommendations predict the frequency of vitamin D counseling regardless of specialty. Family medicine physicians in Connecticut need to increase their awareness and counseling of vitamin D supplementation for infants.