G127(P) Improving vitamin d supplementation in children aged 0–5 years by improving health professionals’ knowledge of updated vitamin d guidance

Abstract

Guidance from the RCPCH and Public Health agency (PHA) recommends all children 0–5 years should receive vitamin D supplementation (excluding those receiving more than 500 ml of formula milk/day).AimOur aim was to assess current level of vitamin D supplementation in children aged 0–5 years within our trust and assess awareness of RCPCH/PHA guidance among parents and health professionals.MethodsA survey was completed with parents/carers of children aged 0–5 years attending outpatient clinics. We surveyed if children were in receipt of vitamin D supplementation and parental awareness of vitamin D guidance. Education via vitamin D information leaflets was provided to all surveyed.An online survey was circulated to medical and health visiting staff. 99 responses were received.Results40 children were surveyed. 34 of these children should have been receiving supplements. Our survey identified 15% of these children were receiving supplementation. 75% of parents/carers had no awareness of vitamin D guidelines. There was no uptake of healthy start vouchers for vitamins. Healthy Start is a government scheme aiming to improve the health of low income families including the provision of vitamin coupons.72% of health professional respondents were aware of vitamin D guidance yet only 14% correctly identified children who should receive vitamin D supplementation. 63% were not aware of how parents/carers apply for healthy start vouchers. 74% stated they had not received training in vitamin D supplementation. Respondents suggested that they would benefit from face to face teaching sessions and e-learning modules.A teaching programme was created to improve health professionals’ awareness of vitamin D guidance. Following attendance at the session 100% of attendee’s reported that they felt more informed about vitamin D guidance. 89% suggested that the teaching will change their practice with 93% stating that they will now recommend vitamin D supplementation to children aged 0–5 years in their care.ConclusionOur project identified the lack of awareness around vitamin D supplementation and emphasises the importance of education amongst professionals to improve vitamin d supplementation within the paediatric population. Ongoing engagement with the PHA is necessary to improve public awareness and uptake of supplementation.

Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children—Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?

“…The importance for more simplified, easy to follow and accessible information is clear. Furthermore, there is some evidence of low levels of awareness of the importance of vitamin D supplementation in early childhood amongst health care practitioners [46,82], and thus some health care practitioners may not be adequately informed to give vitamin D advice to parents. The infographic thus needs to be clear enough so that it can be delivered as standalone information and could be used to support health care practitioners, when delivering verbal information to pregnant women and parents.…”