Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Influence the Awareness About Vitamin D Among the General Population in Jeddah, Saudi...

Background Vitamin D deficiency has been a major health concern over the last decade. With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health officials and social media have stressed the importance of vitamin D and its role in immune systems. This research focused on the level of vitamin D awareness in Jeddah after the pandemic in 2022. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among the adult general population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were obtained through an electronically distributed questionnaire designed to collect information on self-reported knowledge questions about vitamin D, which was previously validated and used in a similar study on the same population before the pandemic. The validated questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and questions assessing the knowledge about vitamin D. Ethical approvals were obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Results Of the 385 total participants, 198 (51.4%) were aged 18-28 years, 331 (86%) were of Arab ethnicity, 289 (75.1%) had a university degree, 86 (22.3%) had completed high school, 186 (48.3%) were married, and 197 (51.2%) had no children. The overall mean knowledge score was 67.12%, and the mean knowledge score for vitamin D benefits was 73.51%. The mean knowledge score for vitamin D sources was 51.53%, and the mean knowledge score for toxicity was 86.49%. When comparing knowledge scores based on demographic variables, only a few variables were significant. Regarding vitamin D awareness following the COVID-19 pandemic, most participants (54.55%) believed the pandemic had affected or increased their vitamin D awareness. Approximately 52.85% had used vitamin D supplements before the pandemic, and 53.25% were currently using vitamin D supplements. Conclusions In general, compared to pre-COVID-19 studies conducted in Saudi Arabia, this study revealed a greater understanding of vitamin D. Participants who had completed high school or more displayed a higher level of knowledge than other groups. It is still recommended that primary care physicians educate their patients and families about the benefits of vitamin D, the effects of its deficiency, and its toxicity.