As Britain basks in sunshine there is still major confusion among the public about the best way to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D and the role the sun can play, a survey has found.

The National Osteoporosis Society survey of 600 people found that 62 per cent of respondents understood the importance of vitamin D for healthy bones, but only a third were aware that the best way to obtain vitamin D was by going outside in the sun without sunscreen.

There was also confusion about dietary sources of the vitamin – almost half of the survey respondents said they did not need to take a vitamin D supplement because they ate a healthy diet, when in fact only a small amount of vitamin D comes from food sources.

A third of respondents were aware that the best source of vitamin D was sun exposure without suncream

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Commenting on the results, National Osteoporosis Society spokeswoman Siobhan Hallmark said uncertainty over how to obtain safe doses of vitamin D could mean that people were putting themselves at risk of weaker bones. However, she stressed that patients' understanding was improving. "More than 37 per cent of people we questioned this year understood that you need to head outside without sunscreen in order to obtain your vitamin D, compared to only 6 per cent of respondents three years ago," she said.

Elizabeth Roddick, owner of New Life Pharmacy and finalist for the C+D Awards 2012 for her vitamin D clinic, said community pharmacy had an important role to play in advising people on safe exposure to the sun and supplementation for those unable to get adequate sunlight. "There are a lot of categories of people who don't get out in the sun and therefore there's a lot of scope for people being vitamin D deficient," she said.

"Pharmacists can give people clear instructions on safe sunbathing, but if we have the usual British summer, pharmacists can also offer vitamin D supplements."

The National Osteoporosis Society launched its Sunlight Campaign last week to remind people to get outside for a few minutes each day to ensure they take in sufficient vitamin D.

In March, Asda launched a campaign providing free vitamin D at its pharmacies for children aged between three and five years.