Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge and Behaviors Regarding Drug–Dietary Supplement and Drug–Herbal Product Interactions

Zorica Stanojević-Ristić, Isidora Mrkić, Aleksandar Ćorac, Mirjana Dejanović, Radoslav Mitić, Leonida Vitković, Julijana Rašić, Dragana Valjarević and Aleksandar Valjarević
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Zorica Stanojević-Ristić: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Isidora Mrkić: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Center, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Aleksandar Ćorac: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Mirjana Dejanović: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Radoslav Mitić: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Leonida Vitković: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Julijana Rašić: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Dragana Valjarević: Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Aleksandar Valjarević: Department of Geospatial and Environmental Science, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Given the widespread use of dietary supplements (DS) and herbal products (HP), healthcare professionals (HCPs) will increasingly encounter patients who use these preparations with conventional drugs and who need their services to reduce the consequences of adverse therapeutic outcomes. The aim of our survey was to assess the knowledge and behaviors of HCPs regarding the risk of potential drug–dietary supplement (DDSIs) and drug–herbal product (DHPIs) interactions. This cross-sectional survey collected data via on paper-based questionnaire among general practitioners (GPs) ( n = 105), specialty doctors ( n = 87) and nurses ( n = 154). The HCPs were mostly familiar with the interaction of doxycycline with magnesium (83%) and were least familiar with interaction of warfarin with glucosamine (14%). The results on DDSIs and DHPIs knowledge showed that GPs scored significantly higher than nurses ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively), while specialty doctors scored significantly higher than nurses only on DDSIs knowledge ( p < 0.001). Only 28% of respondents reported that they often or always ask patients on drug therapy about the use of DS or HP, and 25% of respondents record such data in the medical documentation of patients. Our results showed that HCPs have sufficient knowledge about most major DDSIs and DHPIs, but insufficient knowledge about most moderate interactions. However, their overall knowledge and behavior regarding the risk of these interactions indicate the need for further continuing education and training.

Keywords: drug–dietary supplement interactions (DDSIs); drug–herbal product interactions (DHPIs); knowledge; behavior; healthcare professionals (HCPs) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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