Determinants of vitamin D supplementation prescription in nursing homes: a survey among general practitioners

Abstract
Summary A total of 119 GPs participated to a survey aimed to
assess the profile and determinants of vitamin D supplementation
prescription in nursing homes. Among the respondent
GPs, 65 (54.6 %) systematically prescribe vitamin D to their
institutionalized patients and the 54 (45.4 %) others prescribe
only sometimes.
Introduction The aim of this study is to assess the profile and
determinants of vitamin D supplementation prescription in
nursing homes.
Methods General practitioners (GPs) having at least one patient
in a nursing home in Liège, Belgium, were asked to
complete the survey.
Results A total of 119 GPs participated in the survey. Among
the respondent GPs, 65 (54.6 %) systematically prescribe vitamin
D to their institutionalized patients and the 54 (45.4 %)
others prescribe only sometimes. The main reasons for prescribing
vitamin D cited by GPs who do so systematically are
as follows: because they believe nursing home residents are
mostly deficient in vitamin D status (92.1 %), because they
believe that vitamin D supplementation prevents osteoporotic
fractures (77.8 %), and because vitamin D supplementation is
recommended by various scientific societies (38.1 %). GPs
who only prescribe vitamin D supplementation in some patients
mainly do so following a diagnosis of osteoporosis
(82.4 %), on the basis the 25(OH)D level (78.4 %), in the case
of history of fracture (54.9 %) or after a recent fracture
(43.4 %). Surprisingly, 16 physicians (31.4 %) only prescribe
vitamin D when they think of it. Interestingly, while 40.7% of
GPs always prescribe the same dose of vitamin D, the remaining
59.3 % prescribe a dose that will mainly depend on the
results of the 25(OH)D level (94.0 %), the patient’s bone
health (49.3 %), or history of fracture (43.3 %).
Conclusions More than half of GPs systematically prescribe
vitamin D to their patients living in nursing homes. The other
GPs usually prescribe vitamin D following the result of the
vitamin D status or after a diagnosis of osteoporosis.