Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Oct 31:8:1513-20.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S72276. eCollection 2014.

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

Blake Chin-Lee  1 , William J Curry  1 , John Fetterman  2 , Marie A Graybill  1 , Kelly Karpa  2
Affiliations

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

Blake Chin-Lee et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: community pharmacy; primary care; probiotic.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization . Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization; 2002. [Accessed September 23, 2014]. Available at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/es/esn/food/wgreport2.pdf.
    1. pewinternet.org [homepage on the Internet] Health Topics. Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project; 2011. [Accessed September 23, 2014]. [cited February 1, 2011]. Available from: http://www.pewinternet.org/2011/02/01/health-topics-2/
    1. Brinich MA, Mercer MB, Sharp RR. An analysis of online messages about probiotics. BMC Gastroenterol. 2013;13:5. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization . Guidelines for the evaluation of probiotics in food. 2007. (Report of a joint FAO/WHO Working Group on drafting guidelines for the evaluation of probiotics in food).
    1. nutraingredients-usa.com [homepage on the Internet] US per capital spending on probiotic supplements expected to nearly double by 2016. NutraIngredients-USA; 2012. [Accessed September 23, 2014]. [updated February 2, 2012]. Available at: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Markets/US-per-capita-spending-on-pr....

LinkOut - more resources