Exposure to a Vitamin D Best Practices Toolkit, Model, & E-Tools Increases Knowledge, Confidence, and Translation of Research to Public Health and Practice

Preventable vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a global health concern. Prevention, early detection, and treatment of vitamin D deficiency aligning with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D recommendations of 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L) by an international panel of 48 vitamin D researchers would result in significant health benefits and cost-savings to individuals and society. However, research shows healthcare professionals lack knowledge and confidence in vitamin D best practices. A vitamin D toolkit was developed, including a model for decision-making support, e-tools, and accompanying resources, and implemented using an online, asynchronous learning management system. The pre-, post-test, and follow-up survey study design aimed to increase nurses’ and dietitians' levels of vitamin D knowledge, confidence, translation of evidence into spheres of practice and influence, and identify translation barriers. Toolkit completion increased participants’ (n=119) knowledge, 31% to 65% (p <0.001) and confidence 2.0 to 3.3 (p<0.001) on a scale of 1-5. Respondents reported using the model (100%) as a framework successfully guiding the translation of vitamin D knowledge into their sphere of influence or practice (94%) and identified translation barriers. The toolkit should be included in interdisciplinary continuing education, research/quality improvement initiatives, healthcare policy, and institutions of higher learning to increase movement of research to practice.