Table 3 Association of vitamin D knowledge, attitudes and practices with vitamin D testing
Variables | N (%) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Never tested | Ever tested | ||
Related to Knowledge about Vitamin D | |||
Knowledge about food sources | Â | Â | .0433 |
 Only correct | 27 (8.5) | 18 (15.1) |  |
 Incorrect with/without correct | 290 (91.5) | 101 (84.9) |  |
Missing: 62 | Â | Â | Â |
Knowledge about health benefits | Â | Â | <.0001 |
 Bone benefits +/− other benefits | 227 (72.3) | 76 (63.9) |  |
 Other benefits only | 31 (9.9) | 38 (31.9) |  |
 Don’t know | 56 (17.8) | 5 (4.2) |  |
Missing: 65 | Â | Â | Â |
Knowledge about factors affecting Vitamin D | Â | Â | <.0001 |
 Sun exposure and UV index with/without other factors | 165 (52.7) | 45 (39.5) |  |
 Only other factors | 76 (24.3) | 60 (52.6) |  |
 Don’t know | 72 (23.0) | 9 (7.9) |  |
Missing: 71 | Â | Â | Â |
Related to Attitudes towards Vitamin D | |||
Concerned current vitamin D levels may be too low | Â | Â | .168 |
 Agree/strongly agree | 118 (41.2) | 58 (52.3) |  |
 Neutral | 113 (40.2) | 35 (31.5) |  |
 Disagree/strongly disagree | 50 (17.8) | 18 (16.2) |  |
Missing: 113 | Â | Â | Â |
From a health perspective, it is important to get some sun exposure every day | Â | Â | .981 |
 Agree/strongly agree | 231 (77.3) | 84 (76.4) |  |
 Neutral | 50 (16.7) | 19 (17.3) |  |
 Disagree/strongly disagree | 18 (6.0) | 7 (6.4) |  |
Missing: 96 | Â | Â | Â |
Related to Practices towards Vitamin D | |||
Ever take supplements or multivitamin containing vitamin D | Â | Â | <.0001 |
 No | 203 (71.7) | 31 (26.3) |  |
 Yes | 80 (28.3) | 87 (73.7) |  |
Missing: 104 | Â | Â | Â |
Vitamin D dose of supplement | Â | Â | .0001 |
  < 1000 IU | 22 (27.5) | 49 (56.3) |  |
 1000 IU and over | 4 (5.0) | 8 (9.2) |  |
 Don’t know | 54 (67.5) | 30 (34.5) |  |
Missing: 338 | Â | Â | Â |
Motivation for starting to take vitamin D | Â | Â | .03 |
 A doctor or health professional recommended | 34 (42.5) | 33 (37.9) |  |
 A friend or family member recommended | 13 (16.3) | 17 (19.5) |  |
 Read about vitamin D on the internet or in a book/magazine | 11 (13.8) | 25 (28.7) |  |
 Someone else in the family is taking it | 22 (27.5) | 12 (13.8) |  |
Missing: 338 | Â | Â | Â |
Primary reason for not taking vitamin D | Â | Â | .0005 |
 Never thought about it | 143 (70.4) | 13 (41.9) |  |
 Feel that get enough vitamin D from my diet | 16 (7.9) | 10 (32.3) |  |
 Feel that get enough vitamin D from sun | 22 (10.8) | 4 (12.9) |  |
 Prefer not to take any supplements/vitamins | 22 (10.8) | 4 (12.9) |  |
Missing: 271 | Â | Â | Â |
Time spent outdoors on a typical workday | Â | Â | .4 |
 15 min or less | 47 (14.7) | 24 (19.8) |  |
 16 min - < 1 h | 141 (44.1) | 48 (39.7) |  |
 1 h or more | 132 (41.3) | 49 (40.5) |  |
Missing: 64 | Â | Â | Â |
Time spent outdoors on a typical weekend day | Â | Â | .85 |
 15 min or less | 80 (24.8) | 31 (25.6) |  |
 16 min - < 1 h | 129 (40.1) | 51 (42.2) |  |
 1 h or more | 113 (35.1) | 39 (32.2) |  |
Missing: 62 | Â | Â | Â |
Sunscreen use | Â | Â | <.0001 |
 No | 201 (62.2) | 43 (35.5) |  |
 Yes | 122 (37.8) | 78 (64.5) |  |
Missing: 61 | Â | Â | Â |