A quality-improvement audit that doubled vitamin D testing among at-risk inpatients aged 65 and over.
At-risk inpatients aged 65 and over on a diabetes and endocrinology ward were not routinely being tested for vitamin D deficiency.
Led a quality-improvement audit of 55 at-risk inpatients during my FY2 rotation. Delivered a teaching session, put up guideline posters and added reminders at ward meetings.
Testing rates rose from 28.6% to 59.3% (χ² = 5.27, p = 0.022). Between 50% and 71% of those tested were deficient. Recommended electronic prescribing prompts and a re-audit.
Older inpatients are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, and guidelines recommend testing and supplementation where indicated.
The deficiency rate among the patients tested confirmed the clinical value of testing. Low-cost prompts depend on people remembering, which is why the recommendations focus on making the change systemic.