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-sec...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/8/2610 |
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| author | Katarina Bardheci Levy Jäger Lorenz Risch Thomas Rosemann Jakob M. Burgstaller Stefan Markun |
| author_facet | Katarina Bardheci Levy Jäger Lorenz Risch Thomas Rosemann Jakob M. Burgstaller Stefan Markun |
| author_sort | Katarina Bardheci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:31:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-463e1cd3e015488b9a0006b5a40713c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:31:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-463e1cd3e015488b9a0006b5a40713c22023-11-22T09:03:21ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-07-01138261010.3390/nu13082610Testing and Prescribing Vitamin B12 in Swiss General Practice: A Survey among PhysiciansKatarina Bardheci0Levy Jäger1Lorenz Risch2Thomas Rosemann3Jakob M. Burgstaller4Stefan Markun5Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandLabormedizinisches Zentrum Dr Risch AG, 9470 Buchs, SwitzerlandInstitute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandTesting 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/8/2610vitamin B12cobalaminsurveygeneral practitionerslaboratory testingpolyneuropathy |
| spellingShingle | Katarina Bardheci Levy Jäger Lorenz Risch Thomas Rosemann Jakob M. Burgstaller Stefan Markun Testing and Prescribing Vitamin B12 in Swiss General Practice: A Survey among Physicians Nutrients vitamin B12 cobalamin survey general practitioners laboratory testing polyneuropathy |
| title | Testing and Prescribing Vitamin B12 in Swiss General Practice: A Survey among Physicians |
| title_full | Testing and Prescribing Vitamin B12 in Swiss General Practice: A Survey among Physicians |
| title_fullStr | Testing and Prescribing Vitamin B12 in Swiss General Practice: A Survey among Physicians |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing and Prescribing Vitamin B12 in Swiss General Practice: A Survey among Physicians |
| title_short | Testing and Prescribing Vitamin B12 in Swiss General Practice: A Survey among Physicians |
| title_sort | testing and prescribing vitamin b12 in swiss general practice a survey among physicians |
| topic | vitamin B12 cobalamin survey general practitioners laboratory testing polyneuropathy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/8/2610 |
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