title: Assessment of vitamin D levels, awareness among Lebanese pharmacy students, and impact of pharmacist counseling.
abstract: Vitamin D inadequacy, frequently underdiagnosed, affects people of all age groups worldwide. This prospective study aims at determining the percentage of inadequate vitamin D levels among students and evaluating the impact of pharmacist counseling on raising the awareness of the importance of sun exposure and adequate vitamin D intake. A total of 160 university students were recruited. Blood samples were taken to check the vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorous levels. Vitamin D levels ⩽30ng/mL were defined as inadequate. Scores were given to the questions and aimed at gathering patient knowledge about vitamin D before and after pharmacist counseling. A total of 115 (71.87%) patients had vitamin D levels <30ng/mL, with a mean vitamin D serum level of 16.80±5.85ng/mL. The mean level of calcium was 9.51±1.23mg/dL and, of phosphorus 3.62±0.95mg/dL. The mean difference in the knowledge score of the recommended daily amount of vitamin D before and after pharmacist counseling was 2.81 versus 5.88 (p<0.001). Concerning patient education for diseases and drugs that affect vitamin D levels, pharmacist counseling was effective in raising the awareness (p<0.001). Given that vitamin D inadequacy is linked to many disease progressions, it is important that health professionals provide interventional strategies and education measures to correct inadequate levels in patients of all age groups.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malaeb
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon. Electronic address: souheilhallit@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Souheil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hallit
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon; School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salameh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Awareness; Counseling; Pharmacist; Vitamin D