Testing and Prescribing Vitamin B12 in Swiss General Practice : A Survey among Physicians

Testing and prescribing vitamin B12 (also known as cobalamin) is increasing in Switzerland but substantial variation among general practitioners (GPs) with respect to testing has been noted. In this study, we aimed at exploring GPs' mindsets regarding vitamin B12 testing and prescribing. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey distributed by e-mail to Swiss GPs. The questionnaire explored mindsets related to testing and prescribing vitamin B12 in specific clinical situations, as well as testing and prescribing strategies. The questionnaire was sent to 876 GPs and 390 GPs responded (44.5%). The most controversial domains for testing and prescribing vitamin B12 were idiopathic fatigue (57.4% and 43.4% of GPs agreed, respectively) and depressive symptoms (53.0% and 35.4% of GPs agreed, respectively). There was substantial variation among GPs with regard to testing strategies (89.5% of GPS used a serum cobalamin test, 71.3% of GPS used holotranscobalamin, and 27.6% of GPs used homocysteine or methylmalonic acid). Intramuscular injection was the predominantly prescribed route of application (median of 87.5% of the prescriptions). In this study, we focus on discordant mindsets that can be specifically targeted by using educational interventions, and research questions that still need answering specifically about the effectiveness of vitamin B12 for idiopathic fatigue.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:13

Enthalten in:

Nutrients - 13(2021), 8 vom: 29. Juli

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Bardheci, Katarina [VerfasserIn]
Jäger, Levy [VerfasserIn]
Risch, Lorenz [VerfasserIn]
Rosemann, Thomas [VerfasserIn]
Burgstaller, Jakob M [VerfasserIn]
Markun, Stefan [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Anemia
Cobalamin
Cognitive
Depression
General practitioners
Idiopathic fatigue
Journal Article
Laboratory testing
P6YC3EG204
Polyneuropathy
Survey
Vitamin B 12
Vitamin B12

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 04.10.2021

Date Revised 04.10.2021

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.3390/nu13082610

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM329876775