title: Dietary Supplements: Knowledge and Adverse Event Reporting Among American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Physicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Certain dietary supplements (DSs) used by military populations pose a threat to overall readiness. This study assessed members of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) regarding their knowledge of DS use among their patients and reporting of suspected adverse events.
  
  
  METHODS
  A thirteen-question retrospective, cross-sectional, Web-based survey sought data on practices regarding DSs and adverse event reporting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous Web-based survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Military and civilian sports medicine physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary finding of the study was how frequently practitioners report adverse events associated with DS use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 311 physicians responded to the survey. Only 51% of respondents had a reliable source for information on DS safety and 58% routinely discussed DS use with their patients. Although a majority (71%) of respondents had encountered adverse events associated with DS use, few of those (10%) confirmed reporting such events. Reasons that physicians did not report adverse events were lack of knowledge regarding where to report (68%), how to report (61%), and availability of time (9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that some AMSSM physicians are familiar with DSs and have encountered adverse events associated with their use. However, reporting of these adverse events to the appropriate agency is minimal at best. The significant gaps in physician knowledge regarding how and where to report such events indicate a need to educate physicians on this subject.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this survey indicate the need for provider education on reporting adverse events associated with DS use. Although reporting of adverse events is essential for removing harmful DSs from the market, a majority of physicians have limited knowledge on this issue. Moreover, the survey provides insight into the barriers to physician reporting of adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Blaise
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pascale
authors.forename: Clay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Selasi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attipoe
authors.forename: Francis G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: OʼConnor
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Deuster
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*