Justyna Strocka, Urszula Religioni, Justyna Kaźmierczak, Agnieszka Drab, Katarzyna Plagens-Rotman, Piotr Merks, Jarosław Pinkas, Janusz Ostrowski
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dietary supplements (DS) are increasingly popular worldwide, with 78% of Polish adults reporting their use, and nearly half using them regularly. The wide availability, selection, and affordability contribute to this prevalence. However, misinformation and potential health risks from incorrect usage highlight the importance of health literacy in making informed choices about DS. This study aims to assess the knowledge and practices related to dietary supplement use among Polish patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2024 on a representative sample of 1,074 Polish adults, excluding healthcare professionals, using the computer-assisted web interview method. The questionnaire assessed respondents' understanding of DS, sources of information, purchasing habits, and consultations with healthcare professionals. RESULTS Most respondents (71.79%) believed they understood what a dietary supplement is. Women and individuals with higher education were more likely to claim understanding (p=0.001, p<0.00001). The Internet was the most common information source (38.64%), followed by mass media and healthcare professionals. Women and older respondents more often consulted doctors and pharmacists (p=0.002, p=0.004). Brick-and-mortar pharmacies were the preferred purchasing location (61.64%), with men more likely to use online pharmacies (p=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS The study indicates high awareness of dietary supplements among Polish adults, with significant differences based on gender and education. Despite the Internet being a major information source, healthcare professionals remain crucial for informed decision-making. Efforts are needed to enhance public health literacy and ensure safe DS use.
膳食补充剂(DS)在世界范围内越来越受欢迎,78%的波兰成年人报告使用它们,近一半的人经常使用它们。广泛的可获得性、可选择性和可负担性促成了这种流行。然而,错误使用的错误信息和潜在的健康风险突出了健康素养在做出关于退行性痴呆的知情选择方面的重要性。本研究的目的是评估知识和实践有关膳食补充剂的使用波兰患者。材料和方法在2024年对1074名波兰成年人(不包括医疗保健专业人员)的代表性样本进行了一项横断面调查,采用计算机辅助网络访谈法。问卷评估了受访者对DS的理解、信息来源、购买习惯以及与医疗保健专业人员的咨询情况。结果大多数受访者(71.79%)认为他们了解膳食补充剂是什么。女性和受过高等教育的人更有可能声称理解(p=0.001, p
期刊介绍:
Medical Science Monitor (MSM) established in 1995 is an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal which publishes original articles in Clinical Medicine and related disciplines such as Epidemiology and Population Studies, Product Investigations, Development of Laboratory Techniques :: Diagnostics and Medical Technology which enable presentation of research or review works in overlapping areas of medicine and technology such us (but not limited to): medical diagnostics, medical imaging systems, computer simulation of health and disease processes, new medical devices, etc. Reviews and Special Reports - papers may be accepted on the basis that they provide a systematic, critical and up-to-date overview of literature pertaining to research or clinical topics. Meta-analyses are considered as reviews. A special attention will be paid to a teaching value of a review paper.
Medical Science Monitor is internationally indexed in Thomson-Reuters Web of Science, Journals Citation Report (JCR), Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI), Index Medicus MEDLINE, PubMed, PMC, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Chemical Abstracts CAS and Index Copernicus.