Vitamin D levels in ethnic minority adolescents in primary care

50^th Global Congress on Nursing Care and Research

September 20, 2022 | Webinar

Shainy B Varghese, Julia Benoit, Teresa McIntyre

UH College of Nursing Health Clinic, USA

ScientificTracks Abstracts: J Nurs Res Pract

Abstract :

Introduction: This pilot study examined the distribution of low vitamin D levels among ethnic minority adolescents in primary care to elucidate the clinical needs of this diverse population. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a retrospective patient chart review. Participants were a consecutive sample of 119 ethnically diverse adolescents aged 12−18 years, attending a primary care clinic, who had a wellness examination in 2018 and documented vitamin D levels on the basis of previously collected blood work. Results: Sixty-one percent of adolescents had low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency increased with age, independently of ethnicity or gender. Discussion: A significant number of ethnically diverse adolescents presented with low vitamin D levels. A need exists to raise awareness among clinicians regarding social determinants of health and culturally sensitive dietary practices to improve vitamin D levels and prevent long-term complications, focusing on adolescent at-risk ethnic groups. References 1. Al-Taiar, A., Rahman, A., Al-Sabah, R., Shaban, L., & Al-Harbi, A. (2018). Vitamin D status among adolescents in Kuwait: A crosssectional study. British Medical Journal Open, 8(7), e021401. 2. Amrein, K., Scherkl, M., Hoffmann, M. et al. (2020). Vitamin D deficiency 2.0: An update on the current status worldwide. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 74, 1498–1513. 3. Ames, B. N., Grant, W. B., & Willett, W. C. (2021). Does the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in african americans contribute to health disparities? Nutrients, 13(2), 499.

Biography :

Shainy B Varghese is a pediatric nurse practitioner and an associate professor of nursing at the University Of Houston, College Of Nursing. She got her Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery from India, master's from the University of Texas, and earned her doctorate in nursing from the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston. Varghese's research focuses on Telehealth, Vitamin D deficiency in children, and gaming addiction in children. She enjoys teaching research, pediatrics, and evidence-based practice. She recently got certified as a Global Nurse Consultant.