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Patient experience and use of probiotics in community-based health care settings

OBJECTIVE: To investigate patient experience with probiotics and factors that influence probiotic use among adult patients. METHOD: Patients were invited to complete a questionnaire that assessed their experiences and opinions regarding probiotics. Questionnaires were distributed to patients seeking...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Chin-Lee, Blake, Curry, William J, Fetterman, John, Graybill, Marie A, Karpa, Kelly
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Dove Medical Press 2014
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4222242/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25382972
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S72276
Descripción
Sumario:OBJECTIVE: To investigate patient experience with probiotics and factors that influence probiotic use among adult patients. METHOD: Patients were invited to complete a questionnaire that assessed their experiences and opinions regarding probiotics. Questionnaires were distributed to patients seeking primary health care services at a family and community medicine practice site and a community pharmacy. Patients were invited to complete the questionnaire while awaiting the physician or waiting for prescriptions to be filled. RESULTS: Overall, 162 surveys were completed and returned (66% response rate) from patients aged 18 to 89 years of age (mean 49.5 years). Most patients (n=107; 65%) were familiar with the term “probiotic”, and 49 patients (29.9%) had personally used the supplements in the past. Of those who had used probiotics, the majority (57%) had used the supplements to maintain “good gastrointestinal health” and most (59%) felt that the supplements had been beneficial. However, most (59%) had not informed their health care provider about their use of the supplements. CONCLUSION: Use of probiotic supplements is common among consumers, but may not be reported to health care providers.