title: Clinical audit of health promotion of vitamin D in one general practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical audit of vitamin D health promotion in one Australian general practice was undertaken by measuring health service use and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 995 patients aged 45 to 49 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 3 years, 486 (51%) patients had a Medicare funded Health Assessment. More women (54%) were assessed than men (46%) p = 0.010. Mean 25-OHD was higher for men (70.0 nmol/l) than women (60.3 nmol/l) p < 0.001. More patients had their weight measured (50%) than 25-OHD tested (28%).Among 266 patients who had a 25-OHD test, 68 (26%) had normal levels 80+ nmol/l, 109 (41%) were borderline 51-79 nmol/l, and 89 (33%) were low < 51 nmol/l. Mean 25-OHD was higher in summer (73.7 nmol/l) than winter (54.7 nmol/l) p < 0.001. Sending uninvited written information about 25-OHD had no effect on patients' subsequent attendance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health promotion information about vitamin D was provided to 50% of a targeted group of patients over a one-year period. Provision of this information had no effect on the uptake rates of an invitation to attend for a general health assessment.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of General Practice in the School of General Practice, Rural and Indigenous Health, at the Australian National University Medical School, PO Box 11 Woden, ACT 2606 Canberra, Australia. Marjan.kljakovic@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kljakovic
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: Rashmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma