Vitamin D-Related Information Exposure, Attitudes, and Practices Among Prostate and Breast Cancer Survivors in Poland: Implications for Patient-Physician Communication.

More than half of cancer survivors reported vitamin D supplementation between diagnosis and survey completion.

• 52% of respondents reported vitamin D supplementation between cancer diagnosis and survey completion
• The cross-sectional survey included 145 breast and prostate cancer survivors
• Mean age of participants was 62.2 ± 9.9 years
• An original, validated questionnaire was used to collect data

Nearly two-thirds of cancer survivors reported using supplements other than vitamin D in relation to their cancer.

• Nearly 65% of respondents declared using supplements other than vitamin D in relation to their cancer
• Only 7.5% of other supplement users stated that their oncology care physicians knew about their supplement intake
• The most common reason for not informing physicians was that the physician did not ask about the issue

Physician-directed vitamin D supplementation and serum 25(OH)D testing were rare among cancer survivors.

• Only 17.3% of respondents had been instructed by their physician to take vitamin D
• Only 5.5% of respondents had been ordered by their physician to have their serum 25(OH)D levels tested
• These findings suggest a substantial gap between patient practice and physician guidance regarding vitamin D

The vast majority of cancer survivors perceived a need for physicians to routinely order vitamin D level tests for cancer patients.

• 94% of respondents perceived the need for physicians to routinely order vitamin D level tests for patients diagnosed with cancer
• This contrasts sharply with the 5.5% who had actually been ordered such testing by their physician
• Only 39.5% of vitamin D users stated that their oncology care physicians knew about their supplement intake

Patient-physician communication about supplement use was poor, with the most common barrier being that physicians did not ask about supplement intake.

• Only 39.5% of vitamin D users stated their oncology care physicians knew about their vitamin D supplement intake
• Only 7.5% of other supplement users stated their oncology care physicians knew about their supplement intake
• The most common reason patients did not inform their physician about taking vitamin D and/or other supplements was that the physician did not ask about this issue

Women demonstrated greater health information exposure and better communication skills with physicians than men across almost all aspects analysed.

• Almost all aspects analysed showed greater health information exposure among women than among men
• Better communication skills with physicians were also observed among women compared to men
• The study included both breast cancer and prostate cancer survivors, allowing for sex-based comparisons