Improved vitamin D supplementation in hospitalized breastfed infants through electronic order modification and targeted provider education.

OBJECTIVE

To examine effectiveness of an intervention promoting vitamin D supplementation in hospitalized breastfed infants.

METHODS

Our urban tertiary care hospital instituted a 2-part intervention: brief education for providers on vitamin D guidelines and insertion of an opt-in order for vitamin D supplements into electronic admission order sets. Data downloads on admissions of patients aged <1 year were obtained. We excluded those not breastfed, with a dietary restriction, or admitted to intensive care. Intervention effects were compared from 6 months postintervention to the 6 same months 1 year earlier. We applied χ2 and logistic regression, including the patient as a random effect to adjust for repeated admissions.

RESULTS

Data on 471 exclusively or partially breastfed admissions (441 infants) were analyzed (221 preintervention, 250 postintervention). Admission characteristics did not differ by period: 55.0% boys; 40.6% Medicaid; 63.7% hospitalized ≤2 days; 72.0% on a general medical service; 16.6% received nutritionist consultation. In-hospital vitamin D prescribing rates significantly increased postintervention (19.5% vs 44.4%; P<.001). Postintervention admissions were more than twice as likely to receive vitamin D supplementation (adjusted odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.6-3.2). Other associated factors included vitamin D as a medication used before admission (adjusted odds ratio 14.3, 95% confidence interval 4.9-41.6), nutritionist consultation during admission, hospitalization≥3 days, and admission to a general medical service. Prescribing of vitamin D at discharge increased significantly (9.0% vs 19.6%; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Medical provider education and modification of electronic ordering templates significantly increased use of vitamin D supplementation in hospitalized breastfed infants.