Clinical Guideline for Detection and Management of Magnesium Deficiency in Ambulatory Care

Background: Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is associated with many common chronic conditions and potentially severe health care outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk factors, and diabetes. However, Mg deficiency is underdiagnosed and often underrecognized in the ambulatory health care setting, and nutrition education and training are often limited for health care providers (HCPs). Methods: A clinical guideline for detecting and treating Mg deficiency in the ambulatory care setting was developed. A pilot study was conducted in which HCPs received education on Mg and completed pre-test and post-test questionnaires to assess intervention efficacy of the guideline. Results: Ten HCPs participated in the pilot study via telephone or face-to-face session. There was a statistically significant increase in general Mg knowledge among HCPs, due to the intervention of presentation of the guideline, with a nonsignificant increase in clinical practice. However, 1-month follow-up survey results showed that HPCs were likely to incorporate Mg assessment and treatment tools from the guideline in their future practice. Conclusions: These findings suggest that use of the proposed clinical guideline may increase HCP knowledge and improve the diagnosis and treatment of Mg deficiency.