PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Laila A. AlBishi AU - Kousalya Prabahar AU - Yara M. Albalawi AU - Shahad A. Albalawi AU - Ashwaq A. Abosalem AU - Wjdan A. Alqarni AU - Salha A. Almarhapi AU - Maram M. Albalawi TI - Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care practitioners in Saudi Arabia, with regard to prevention of vitamin D deficiency in infancy AID - 10.15537/smj.2018.6.22238 DP - 2018 Jun 01 TA - Saudi Medical Journal PG - 603--608 VI - 39 IP - 6 4099 - http://smj.org.sa/content/39/6/603.short 4100 - http://smj.org.sa/content/39/6/603.full SO - Saudi Med J2018 Jun 01; 39 AB - 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.