Changes in use of herbs and dietary supplements (HDS) among clinicians enrolled in an online curriculum.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about clinicians' use of herbs and dietary supplements (HDS), how their personal HDS use changes with time and training, and how changes in their personal use affect their confidence or communication with patients about HDS.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective cohort study of clinicians before and after an on-line curriculum about HDS in winter-spring, 2005.


RESULTS
Of the 569 clinicians who completed surveys both at baseline and after the course, 25% were male and the average age was 42 years old; 88% used HDS before and after the course. The average number of supplements used fell slightly from 6.2 at baseline to 5.8 after the course (P < 0.01). The most commonly used supplements at baseline were: multivitamins (65%), calcium (42%), B vitamins (34%), vitamin C (34%), green tea (27%), fish oil (27%) and vitamin E (25%). Use of fish oil increased to 30% after the course (P = 0.01). Use of supplements traditionally used to treat colds decreased: vitamin C (34% to 27%), zinc (13% to 10%), and echinacea (7% to 5%, P < 0.05 for all three). Changes in personal HDS use were not associated with significant changes in confidence or communication with patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Many clinicians use HDS personally; use changes seasonally and to a small extent with professional education. Professional use of HDS is dynamic and seasonal. Additional research is needed to understand the impact of personal use on professional attitudes and behavior in populations with lower baseline uses of HDS.
Kemper
Kathi J
KJ
Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, USA. kkemper@wfubmc.edu
Gardiner
Paula
P
Woods
Charles
C
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires