Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) towards Vitamin D Deficiency among Adult Population in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background Vitamin D deficiency is becoming a worrying problem in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. However, vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, plays a vital role in bone health by enhancing calcium and phosphorus absorption and metabolism. Also, vitamin D deficiency is remarkably correlated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as senile dementia, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis. Objective The objective of our study was to evaluate the vitamin D deficiency Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) among the adult population in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional design study was conducted among the general population in the Qassim area from March 2022 to July 2022. Results About 99.1% of people had heard about vitamin D, and the majority were aware that sunlight is the primary source of this vitamin. Despite the fact that 72.9% of them exposed themselves to sunshine, only 46.4% of participants liked going outside in the sun. Only 13.7% of the participants believed that they receive adequate sun exposure. The majority of participants (93.1%) were aware of the significance of vitamin D for bone health, and 48.4% were aware that there is a link between vitamin D insufficiency and other disorders, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression. Additionally, the majority of individuals (91.0%) stated sunlight to be the source of vitamin D. Conclusion The findings have revealed Saudis to have a basic understanding of vitamin D deficiency. However, they were not sufficiently informed on the consequences of vitamin D deficiency.