Knowledge, attitude and practice of patients attending primary care centers toward vitamin D in Kuwait

Peer review under responsibility of Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine.

Available online 18 March 2012

Figures & data

Table 1 General characteristics of participants.

Variables	Number	%
Gender
Male	67	33.5
Female	133	66.5
Age (years)
18–39	89	44.5
40–59	59	29.5
>60	52	26.0
Nationality
Kuwaiti	162	81.0
Non-Kuwaiti	38	19.0
Education
Primary or less	69	34.5
Intermediate/secondary	44	32.0
University or higher	67	33.5
Occupation
Unemployed	46	23.0
Worker	123	61.5
Clerk	17	8.5
Professional	14	7.0
Marital state
Married	163	81.5
Unmarried	37	18.5
Family income/month (KD)
<500	43	21.5
500–999	23	11.5
1000–1499	112	56.0
>1500	20	10.0
Vitamin D level (nmol/L)
<25	120	60.0
25–49	40	20.0
50–69	27	13.5
>70	13	6.5
Total	200	100.0

Table 2 Participants’ Knowledge and attitude regarding vitamin D.

Variables	Number	%
Are you complaining from vitamin D deficiency symptoms?
No	66	33.0
Yes	57	28.5
Do not know	77	38.5
Does bone pain could be related to vitamin D deficiency?
Yes	107	53.5
No/do not know	93	46.5
Does joint pain could be related to vitamin D deficiency?
Yes	67	33.5
No/do not know	133	66.5
Does muscle pain could be related to vitamin D deficiency?
Yes	42	21.0
No/do not know	158	79.0
Did you feel better regarding the musculoskeletal symptoms after taking the treatment courses?
Yes	42	21.0
No/do not know	158	79.0
Did you notice that the level of vitamin D dropped again after stopping medication?
Yes	25	12.5
No/do not know	175	87.5
Do you think that vitamin D deficiency is related to some musculoskeletal diseases?
Yes	146	73.0
No/do not know	54	27.0
Do you think that vitamin D deficiency is related to other diseases like: cardiovascular, diabetes, depression, hypercholesterolemia, cancer and multiple sclerosis?
Yes	59	29.5
No/do not know	141	70.5
Do you think that sunshine is an important source for vitamin D?
Yes	171	85.5
No/do not know	129	14.0
Do you think that we can get vitamin D from nutrients as milk products and oily fish?
Yes	120	60.0
No/do not know	80	40.0
Total	200	100.0

Table 3 Participants'practice regarding vitamin D deficiency.

Practice	Number	%
Did you take the loading dose
Yes	61	30.5
No/do not know	139	69.5
Did you take the maintenance dose
Yes	35	17.5
No/do not know	165	82.5
Exposure to healthy sunshine/week
0–2	112	56.0
3–4	51	25.5
5–7	37	18.5
Total	200	100.0

Table 4 Participants’ main sources of information about vitamin D test.

Source of information	Number	%
Physicians	81	40.5
Media	25	12.5
Relatives and friends	58	29.0
Patient him/herself	17	8.5
Reading journals and magazines	19	9.5
Total	200	100.0