There were significantly more users of sunscreen products (75.5% vs 53.0%, p < 0.0001, sunscreen users vs non-users) and parasols (68.4% vs 43.7%, p < 0.0001, parasol users vs non-users) among respondents who knew that vitamin D was good for bone health and that sunlight was a source of vitamin D. Among those who knew that sunlight was a source of vitamin D, the majority spent less than 1 h in the sun in the past week (76.4% vs 23.6%, 1 h in the sun in the past week, chi-square p < 0.05). The majority had heard of vitamin D, but knowledge about the role and sources of vitamin D was low. However, 58% of people thought that they had enough exposure to sunlight.

The survey results showed that 62.3% (n = 341) did not like going in the sun and 66.7% of respondents spent an average of 6–10 hours indoors, between 6:30 am and 7:00 pm, during weekdays.

Interviews were conducted in Cantonese and eighteen main questions were asked pertaining to personal characteristics, perceptions, attitudes and behaviour toward sunlight, and knowledge about vitamin D. MethodsĪll telephone interviews were conducted using the Computer Assisted Telephone Technique and target respondents were selected by random sampling. To understand more about prevailing attitudes and behaviour toward sunlight and knowledge of vitamin D among a population at greater risk of impaired vitamin D status, poor bone health and osteoporosis, we conducted a telephone interview survey of 547 middle-aged and elderly Chinese women living in Hong Kong. Physical and biological risk factors for vitamin D inadequacy are known however, cultural- and population-specific behaviours and attitudes that influence these risk factors, particularly among Asian people, are less well documented.

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