Assessment Of Knowledge Attitudes And Practice About Vitamin D Among Medical And Dental Students In Peshawar

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a global epidemic. Pakistan is among the highest reported countries having high rate vitamin D deficiency. There are limited exploration of vitamin D related knowledge, attitudes and practices among dental and medical students in Pakistan. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional was conducted among medical and dental students of two private medical institutions in Peshawar, Pakistan. Based on the Raosoft online calculator, it was anticipated that the sample of 169 students would enable us to achieve the study objective.Participants were asked questions about vitamin D using an online pre-validated questionnaire. Results: A total of 169 students responded. The students were grouped in three age group, age 16-20, age 21-24 and age 25 and above. Out of these 169 student 122 (72.2%) were female students and rest 47 (27.8%) were male. 81 (47.9%) were BDS students and 88 (52%) were MBBS students. When asked whether indoor workers are at a high risk of vitamin D deficiency or not, 91.7% answer correctly. Similarly, 75.7% knew that vitamin D taken more than the recommended amount may be harmful. Elderly people are more prone. 85.2% people realized that vitamin D deficiency occur more in elderly people. 82.2% of students identified that pregnant and lactating women’s need of vitamin D is increased due to their condition.92.2% know that bone ache and fatigue is a sign of vitamin D deficiency. Majority of the students reported that sun exposure is prevented by urbanization (77.4%). Vitamin D mainly is produced by sunlight falling on the skin. Skin has cholesterol that is converted to 7-dehydrocholestrol a precursor of vitamin D. A shortage in public places and full-time indoor occupation prevents the optimal exposure to the sun, making it difficult for the body to make vitamin D. This fact was realized by a bulk of the students participating in the study. 86.4% reported that shortage of public places prevents the sun exposure required for the production of vitamin D. Similarly 91.2% acknowledged the fact that full-time indoor occupation is harmful as well. The attitude of medical and dental students towards vitamin D was not to the point as only 10(5.8%) were taking vitamin D supplements and 14(8.3%) were consuming milk and foods rich in vitamin D. 26(15.5%) use sunscreens on their face 17(10%) on their hands regularly. Similarly their exposure to the sun and their outdoor activities are very limited. Conclusion: The medical and dental students of Peshawar were generally having good knowledge about vitamin D and the implications of vitamin D deficiency on our daily life. However, there attitudes and practices regarding vitamin D could be considered moderate. Despite the fact that they were medical and dental students, these statistics were not up to the mark. Such outcomes pose two dangers, both of which must be addressed at all costs. Firstly, it would almost certainly cause vitamin D deficiency in those students, particularly ladies. Second, medical students are the guardians of their country's health; therefore their indifference to such a vital vitamin is inexcusable. Future studies should focus on strategies to make the knowledge about vitamin D more applicable in day to day life