Pharmacists’ Awareness of the Importance of Folic Acid Intake for the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects
10.11256/jjdi.13.167
- VernacularTitle:葉酸の神経管閉鎖障害リスク低下効果に関する薬剤師の認識
- Author:
Taku Obara
;
Yuriko Murai
;
Yukie Igari
;
Azusa Hara
;
Yukinaga Kishikawa
;
Masataka Hayasaka
;
Yutaka Kamata
;
Nariyasu Mano
;
Masanobu Takahashi
;
Sentaro Oide
;
Tetsuji Kitamura
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
folic acid;
neural tube defects;
pharmacists
- From:Japanese Journal of Drug Informatics
2012;13(4):167-172
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: Adequate periconceptional intake of folic acid decreases the risk of neural tube defects. The present study aimed to investigate pharmacists’ awareness of the importance of folic acid intake for the prevention of neural tube defects and to identify factors associated with pharmacists’ awareness.
Design: Questionnaire survey.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire regarding the importance of folic acid intake for the prevention of neural tube defects was distributed to pharmacists who attended educational seminars offered by the Sendai City Pharmaceutical Association in December 2010.
Results: Among the 166 respondents, 104 (62.7%) pharmacists were aware that folic acid intake decreases neural tube defects. After stratification for age and sex including history of delivery, female gender and history of delivery were significantly associated with the awareness of the importance of folic acid intake only among pharmacists younger than 40 years old. Of 104 pharmacists who recognized the importance of folic acid intake for the prevention of neural tube defects, 51.0% and 27.9% recognized that women should begin intake of folic acid before conception and should take about 400 μg of folic acid per day during pregnancy, respectively.
Conclusion: Although about 60% of pharmacists recognized that folic acid intake decreases the risk of neural tube defects, many did not know the intake level required to effectively prevent neural tube defects. Therefore, more aggressive promotion of the awareness of the importance of folic acid intake among pharmacists is warranted.
