Changes in Clinicians' Use of Herbs and Dietary Supplements
Author Information
Author(s): Kathi J Kemper, Paula Gardiner, Charles Woods
Primary Institution: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
How does completing an online curriculum about herbs and dietary supplements affect clinicians' personal use of these products?
Conclusion
Clinicians' personal use of herbs and dietary supplements changes slightly with professional education, but overall use remains stable.
Supporting Evidence
- 88% of clinicians used herbs and dietary supplements before and after the course.
- The average number of supplements used fell from 6.2 to 5.8 after the course.
- Use of fish oil increased from 27% to 30% after the course.
Takeaway
Doctors and nurses use vitamins and herbs to stay healthy, and their choices change a little after learning more about them.
Methodology
A prospective cohort study comparing surveys of clinicians before and after an online curriculum.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-selection of participants who were already high users of HDS.
Limitations
The study involved a self-selected group of clinicians, which may not represent all healthcare professionals.
Participant Demographics
25% male, average age 42 years, primarily healthcare professionals.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P < 0.01 for overall change in supplement use.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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