A study on the usage of dietary supplements by the patients applying to the dietary polyclinics and the health staff of the private Karateki̇n Hospi̇tal in Çankiri

The aim of this study is to investigate perspectives of the patients applying to the dietary clinic and the health staff towards dietary supplements and the reason, frequency and aim for using these supplements. The study was conducted in the Private Karatekin Hospital in Çankırı with the participation of 120 consultants and 100 health staff between October 2009-November 2010. A questionnaire method was employed. The findings were evaluated on SPSS 15. In the consultant group 42.5 % of them and 9 % of the health personnel reported using dietary supplements regularly. The most preferred dietary supplements by the consultants are green tea (25,35 %), herbal tea (14,08 %) and form teas (8,45 %). The most common supplements used by the health personnel are multivitamins (20,83 %), calcium (12,5 %) and B12 (12,5 %). The participants used these supplements generally following the advice of a doctor/dietitian and reported no adverse effects. When the participants were asked whether they had used dietary supplements before, 64.7 % of the consultant group and 30 % of the health staff reported having used dietary supplements. For the consultants, the most common reasons for using dietary supplements in the past are to lose weight, pregnancy, to treat diseases and breastfeeding. The reasons of the health staff are listed as pregnancy, treatment of illnesses, losing or gaining weight. Dietary supplements are used most by the middle aged (20--40 years old), women, overweight people and primary school graduates. When the participants were asked about their overall thoughts concerning dietary supplements, 35,33 % of the consultants stated that they can use it when advised by an expert. While 15,57 % believe them to be helpful in treating some diseases, 9,58 % think they have no use. The majority of the health personnel (38,64 %) stated that they can use them if advised by an expert. The rate of those believing them to be helpful in curing some diseases is 28,47 %. Consequently, it is seen that dietary supplements were not frequently used by the participants in this study. It was regarded positive that the determinant of the dietary supplements was the expert advice, which in turn would prevent unconscious usage of the supplements. The uncertainties in the usage of the dietary supplements (to whom for which diseases how much they can be employed for how long) should be clarified by more long-term and comprehensive studies and the concerned health staff should certainly be trained on these matters. Key Words:, Dietary Supplements, herbal products, Vitamins and Minerals