title: Attitudes of Pediatricians Regarding Prevention and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency.
abstract: To determine the adherence of pediatricians to the nationwide 'Vitamin D Prophylaxis Program' and to evaluate their attitudes about vitamin D intake. The study was conducted using the Turkish National Pediatrics Association network. The pediatricians were asked to respond to an online questionnaire that included five questions on 'What dose of vitamin D they recommend for supplementation?', 'At what age they start vitamin D supplementation?', 'Supplementation method', 'Clichés and truths about vitamin D', and 'High-dose vitamin D therapy indications'. Responses of 167 pediatricians were evaluated in this study. 75.5% of pediatricians indicated that they recommended vitamin D supplementation in a daily dose of 400 IU. 47.1% started vitamin D supplementation by the end of the 2nd week. 7.83% of pediatricians suggested doubling the daily dose of vitamin D supplementation in infants with delayed tooth eruption, 19.9% suggested immediate cessation of vitamin D supplementation in infants with small anterior fontanels. This study showed that the majority of the pediatricians still prescribe vitamin D prophylaxis late, recommend high doses of vitamin D in cases of delayed tooth eruption, and think that low serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level regardless of alkaline or phosphatase parathyroid hormone measurement is an indication for high-dose vitamin D (stoss) therapy. These results suggest a need for new training programs focusing on vitamin D supplementation.
authors.forename: Gülcan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seymen Karabulut
authors.affiliation: Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Kocaeli, Turkey, E-mail: sukruhatun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Şükrü
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Hatun
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bideci
authors.forename: Enver
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hasanoğlu
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000072143:Pediatricians / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D