Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Volume 40, Issue 2, 2016, Pages 144-147

Vitamin D testing patterns among general practitioners in a major Victorian primary health care service (Article)

Gowda U.* , Smith B.J. , Wluka A.E. , Fong D.P.S. , Kaur A. , Renzaho A.M.N.
  • a Global Health and Society Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash UniversityVIC, Australia
  • b Global Health and Society Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash UniversityVIC, Australia
  • c Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Alfred Centre, Monash UniversityVIC, Australia
  • d Doutta Galla Community Health ServiceVIC, Australia
  • e Doutta Galla Community Health ServiceVIC, Australia
  • f Global Health and Society Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash UniversityVIC, Australia, School of Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Western SydneyNSW, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To examine 25(OH)D testing patterns and frequency among general practitioners in a major community health service. Method: A clinical audit of patient records at a community health centre in Melbourne was undertaken. Patients aged 18 years and above were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between vitamin D testing and socio-demographic characteristics while Poisson regression was used for the frequency of testing. Results: There were 1,217 patients tested for serum 25(OH)D. The community health centre was served by 12 general practitioners and an infectious disease specialist. The odds of vitamin D testing showed a positive, albeit weak, association with age (OR 1.01, 95%CI 1.00-1.02, p<0.05), were higher among females than males (OR 1.42, 95%CI 1.18-1.70, p<0.05) and higher among migrants compared to non-migrants (OR 2.57, 95%CI 2.14-3.09, p<0.05). The frequency of testing was also higher among females than males (IRR 1.17, 95%CI 1.07-1.28, p<0.05) and higher among migrants than non-migrants (IRR 1.19, 95%CI 1.08-1.31, p<0.05). Conclusion: Advancing age, being female and being a migrant were associated with an increased likelihood of vitamin D testing. Implications: Development of evidence-based policies and guidelines are needed to manage over-testing of vitamin D in Australia. Studies that include health services from different areas are required to understand vitamin D testing patterns among the general practitioners. © 2015 Public Health Association of Australia.

Author Keywords

Vitamin D deficiency 25(OH) D testing over-diagnosis

Index Keywords

Australia Community Health Services community care human sex difference middle aged statistics and numerical data Vitamin D General Practitioners Medical Audit general practitioner clinical practice clinical audit Community Health Centers Humans migrant male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics Incidence vitamin D deficiency blood adult age Sex Factors Age Factors Practice Patterns, Physicians' health center primary health care
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84939632813&doi=10.1111%2f1753-6405.12409&partnerID=40&md5=7bf7994fcd050244ba728d52e370b86c
DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12409
ISSN: 13260200
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English