title: Counseling about vitamin D supplementation for infants: results of a survey of pediatric and family medicine physicians in Connecticut.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family medicine physicians in Connecticut need to increase their awareness and counseling of vitamin D supplementation for infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Hahnemann Family Health Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. hughsilk@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Silk
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiede
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trojian
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003237:Connecticut; D003376:Counseling; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010372:Pediatrics; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D