Influence of pharmacological education on perceptions, attitudes and use of dietary supplements by medical students

Abstract

AbstractsBackgroundThe ready availability and use of dietary supplements (DS) by the public means that healthcare professionals require education in this area. In the Republic of Serbia, education related to use of DS is included in undergraduate medical training and it is therefore important to assess the effectiveness of this education. The aim of our survey was to investigate the influence of pharmacological education on the use, attitudes and perceptions of risks associated with DS among medical students.MethodsMedical students at the University of Kosovska Mitrovica participated in the survey. Three hundred eighty questionnaires were distributed, yielding a response rate of 89% (n = 334). Data were categorized by year of study, completion of a one-year course in pharmacology and having passed the final exam. The results were compared between 192 (58%) medical students educated in pharmacology (MSEP) and 142 (42%) medical students not educated in pharmacology (MSNEP). The questionnaire was divided into 4 parts: socio-demographic and lifestyle/behavioral characteristics, use of DS, attitudes about efficacy, safety and perception of risk due to DS use. Chi-square test, Student’s t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis.ResultsAbout 53% of respondents used some form of DS. Attitudes regarding the safety of DS consumption showed a difference between the groups. MSEP were more likely to agree that DS have the potential to cause adverse reactions (Likert scale mean 4.1 vs. 3.5, p < 0.001) as well as interactions with conventional drugs (Likert scale mean 4.2 vs. 3.2, p < 0.001) than MSNEP. Finally, MSEP ranked St. John’s wort and ginkgo as the most dangerous DS, but creatine and vitamin C were both ranked as relatively safe. Conversely, MSNEP considered ginkgo and vitamin C the most harmful DS, claiming that omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D had the least hazardous side effects.ConclusionOur results showed that pharmacological education gives young medical students a better understanding of the risks of DS-drug interactions and potential adverse effects. However, their overall attitudes and perception of risk indicate the need for further education.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-2031-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prevalence, Knowledge and Attitudes Concerning Dietary Supplements among a Student Population in Croatia

“…Medical sciences students (33.1%) were slightly higher users of dietary supplements than were nonmedical sciences students (28.8%), which is in accordance to similar studies [ 19 , 26 ]. In line with other studies of dietary supplements, for our students, the most popular dietary supplements were vitamins (13.8%) [ 9 , 10 , 18 ]. In addition, many similar studies reported multivitamins and multivitamin-mineral combinations as the most frequently used dietary supplements in the student’ population [ 24 , 27 , 28 ].…”

“…After joining the EU, Croatia developed regulations on dietary supplements in line with the EU Directive [ 6 ]. The German National Nutrition Survey II showed that 21% of young people used dietary supplements [ 7 ], including 66% of American students [ 8 ], 68% of Serbian students [ 9 ], and 43% of Malaysians students [ 10 ], while in Croatia, there are no existing data about dietary supplements use among young people. Young people are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor nutrition, including nutrient deficiencies [ 11 ].…”

“…In addition, they can, in their future medical practice, have an influence on patient beliefs and uses of dietary supplements as well as an influence on the general population [ 17 ]. Many studies have explored differences in dietary supplements use, knowledge and attitudes between medical science and non-medical science students [ 9 , 10 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Investigation and Comparison of Nutritional Supplement Use, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Medical and Non-Medical Students in China

“…However, medical students in their future clinical practice can have positive impacts on patients health beliefs and supplement use, as well as on those of the general public [ 43 ]. Therefore, some studies also researched the dietary supplements use in health science students to find the difference, especially about their attitudes and knowledge [ 17 , 19 , 24 , 44 , 45 ]. One study conducted in the United States found that the prevalence of dietary supplements use in the students was 66.0% [ 46 ].…”

Use of dietary supplements among nursing students in Turkey in the last 12 months and its relation with orthorexia nervosa

“…6 Moreover, the prevalence of using these supplements among students ranges between 11% and 68% and it is reported that the majority of students use these supplements to be healthy. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] In the literature, it is also reported that the use of dietary supplements is high in people with the symptoms of orthorexia nervosa (ON), followed by people with healthy eating and normal eating habits, respectively, that the rate of dietary supplement use for overall health is higher in people with healthy eating habits and ON symptoms than in people with normal eating habits and that the rate of dietary supplement use to increase energy, skin, hair, or nail health, digestive or urinary health, to improve mood, bone, joint, or muscle health and to enhance focus/concentration is higher in people with ON symptoms than in people with normal or healthy eating habits. 14 Healthy orthorexia is defined as "healthy interest in diet, healthy behavior with regard to diet, and eating healthily as part of one's identity."…”