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 630 ng/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 vitamin D serum level of 16.80 +/- 5.85 ng/mL. The mean level of calcium was 9.51 +/- 1.23 mg/dL and, of phosphorus 3.62 +/- 0.95 mg/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