RF- Insufficient Exposure to Sunlight and Global Mortality: Should We Advise Against or Recommend Sun Exposure?

et al. 2020

Preprint

Background: Vitamin D is very essential for health and its insufficiency is strongly associated with increased overall mortality. Health care workers (HCWs) need to educate on its uses and possible sources although studies show that their knowledge, attitude and practice is low; few studies are available in Ethiopia. The main aim of this study is therefore to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of measuring adult vitamin D status, diagnosis of deficiency and managing health consequences among HCWs in Ethiopia. Methods: This study was conducted in three districts covering lowland, midland and highland ecologies. A total of 405 health extension workers, nurses, health officers, general practitioners and specialists were interviewed. Tablets were used for data collection to archive in a cloud server. Data were exported to Stata version 14 software for cleaning and analysis. Rates were computed and Chi-square test was used to compare differences between the two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to measure the strength, direction and significance of association between different covariates and the practice of HCWs.Result: The level of good knowledge, positive attitude and good practice in measuring adult vitamin D status, diagnosis of deficiency and managing health consequences among HCWs was 210(51.8%), 261(63.5%) and 195(47.4%) respectively. The odds of good practice in the provision of adult vitamin D service were AOR=6.87: 95% CI (3.57, 13.21) and AOR= 2.20: 95% CI (1.23, 3.92) times higher among HCWs in Addis Ababa and highlands compared with those working in lowlands. Good practice among clinicians was AOR=4.26: 95% CI (1.48, 12.25) times higher compared with those working in leadership positions. The likelihood was AOR=1.96: 95% CI (1.19, 3.23) times higher among those with good knowledge compared with those with poor knowledge. Besides, good practice in adult vitamin D service provision was AOR=2.30: 95% CI (1.40, 3.78) times higher among those with positive attitude compared with those who had negative attitude.Conclusions: Only a little over half of HCWs have good knowledge and close to two-third of them has positive attitude while less than half of them have good practice of measuring adult vitamin D status, diagnosis and managing its health consequences practice. Besides, HCWs residential ecology, clinical position, good knowledge and positive associated is associated with good practice on adult vitamin D. It is essential to provide rigorous and continues training for HCWs focusing on their deployment ecology.

Section: Knowledge Of Health Care Professional On Adult Vitamin D De supporting

confidence: 87%

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Health Care Workers on Measuring Adult Vitamin D Level, Diagnosis of Deficiency, and Management of Consequent Health Conditions in Three Ecologies of Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

et al. 2020

Preprint

“…there is a growing evidence and knowledge that suggested insu cient exposure to UV radiation is associated with risks to overall health and even shortens life expectancy (27).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers on measuring adult vitamin D level, diagnosis of deficiency, and management of consequent health conditions in three ecologies of Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

et al. 2020

Preprint

Background: Vitamin D is essential for health and its shortage exacerbate overall mortality. Health care workers (HCWs) need to educate on its uses and sources although studies indicate their low level of practice. The main aim of this study is therefore to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of measuring adult vitamin D status, diagnosis of deficiency and managing health consequences among HCWs in Ethiopia.Methods: This study was conducted in three ecologies covering lowland, midland and highland districts. A total of 405 health care workers with different levels were interviewed. Tablets were used for data collection to archive in a cloud server. Data were exported to Stata version 14 software for cleaning and analysis. Rates were computed and Chi-square test was used to compare differences between the two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to measure the strength, direction and significance of association between different covariates and the practice of HCWs.Result: The level of knowledge, positive attitude and good practice in measuring adult vitamin D status, diagnosis of deficiency and managing health consequences among HCWs was 210(51.8%), 261(63.5%) and 195(47.4%) respectively. The odds of good practice in the provision of adult vitamin D service were AOR=6.87: 95% CI (3.57, 13.21) and AOR= 2.20: 95% CI (1.23, 3.92) times higher among HCWs in Addis Ababa and highlands compared with those working in lowlands. Good practice among clinicians was AOR=4.26: 95% CI (1.48, 12.25) times higher compared with those working in leadership positions. The likelihood was AOR=1.96: 95% CI (1.19, 3.23) times higher among those with good knowledge compared with those with poor knowledge. Besides, good practice in adult vitamin D service provision was AOR=2.30: 95% CI (1.40, 3.78) times higher among those with positive attitude compared with those who had negative attitude.Conclusions: A little over half of HCWs have good knowledge and close to two-third of them has positive attitude while less than half of them have good practice on adult vitamin D deficiency. Besides, HCWs residential ecology, clinical position, knowledge and attitude is associated with good practice on adult vitamin D. It is essential to provide rigorous and continues training for HCWs focusing on their deployment ecology.

“…Because UV radiation is the main risk factor for skin cancer, there is a debate on advice against or recommend sun exposure and physicians are usually confused on encouragement or discouragement of sun exposure as a result some physicians do not recommend their patients to sunlight. But generally, there is a growing evidence and knowledge that suggested insu cient exposure to UV radiation is associated with risks to overall health and even shortens life expectancy (27).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers on measuring adult vitamin D level, diagnosis of deficiency, and management of consequent health conditions in three ecologies of Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

et al. 2020

Preprint

Background: Vitamin D is essential for health and its shortage exacerbates overall mortality. Health care workers (HCWs) need to educate on its uses and sources although studies indicate their low level of practice. The main aim of this study is therefore to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of measuring adult vitamin D status, diagnosis of deficiency and managing health consequences among HCWs in Ethiopia. Methods: This study was conducted in three ecologies covering lowland, midland and highland districts. A total of 405 health care workers with different levels were interviewed. Tablets were used for data collection to archiving in a cloud server. Data were exported to Stata version 14 software for cleaning and analysis. Rates were computed and the Chi-square test was used to compare differences between the two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to measure the strength, direction and significance of the association between different covariates and the practice of HCWs.Result: The level of knowledge, positive attitude and good practice in measuring adult vitamin D status, diagnosis of deficiency and managing health consequences among HCWs was 210 (51.8%), 261(63.5%) and 195(47.4%) respectively. The odds of good practice in the provision of adult vitamin D service were AOR=6.87: 95% CI (3.57, 13.21) and AOR= 2.20: 95% CI (1.23, 3.92) times higher among HCWs in Addis Ababa and highlands compared with those working in lowlands. Good practice among clinicians was AOR=4.26: 95% CI (1.48, 12.25) times higher compared with those working in leadership positions. The likelihood was AOR=1.96: 95% CI (1.19, 3.23) times higher among those with good knowledge compared with those with poor knowledge. Besides, good practice in adult vitamin D service provision was AOR=2.30: 95% CI (1.40, 3.78) times higher among those with positive attitude compared with those who had negative attitude.Conclusions: A little over half of HCWs have good knowledge and close to two-thirds of them have positive attitude while less than half of them have good practice on adult vitamin D deficiency. Besides, HCWs’ residential ecology, clinical position, knowledge and attitude is associated with good practice on adult vitamin D. It is essential to provide rigorous and continuous training for HCWs focusing on their deployment ecology.