Prevalence, Knowledge and Attitudes Concerning Dietary Supplements among a Student Population in Croatia

Bibliographic Data

ID15492007
AuthorsSandra Pavičić Žeželj (0000-0001-7943-0617, University of Rijeka, corresponding author), Ana Tomljanović (University of Rijeka), Gordana Kenđel Jovanović (0000-0002-8694-8761, Department of Health Ecology, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorsko-goranska County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia), Greta Krešić (0000-0002-3432-2687, University of Rijeka), Olga Cvijanović (0000-0002-4381-8529, University of Rijeka), Olga Cvijanović Peloza (University of Rijeka), Nataša Dragaš Zubalj (0000-0002-9512-3809), Nataša Dragaš-Zubalj (Department of Health Ecology, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorsko-goranska County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia), Iva Pavlinić Prokurica (0000-0001-7412-7889, Croatian Centre for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Gorice 68 g, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)
Year2018
Volume15
Issue6
Pages1058-1058
Publication date2018-05-23
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph15061058
PMID29882906
OpenAlexW2804274826
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited17

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of usage and the knowledge and attitudes towards dietary supplements among medical sciences and nonmedical sciences students from Croatia. The study was conducted based on a questionnaire about dietary supplement usage, knowledge and attitudes. The prevalence of dietary supplement use, among 910 university students was 30.5%. The most-used dietary supplements were vitamins (18.0% in medical sciences students and 9.8% in non-medical sciences students). For all students, the internet (66.1%) was the most common source of information, followed by healthcare professionals (33.2%). The most common reason for taking dietary supplements was to maintain good health (26.4%). Use of the internet rather than health professionals as a trusted information source should be revised among this young population. Supplement intake was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI) ( p = 0.016) and physical activity ( p = 0.050). Students with normal BMI (61.5%) and the most physically active students (37.7%) took significantly more dietary supplements. Results of this study could help medicine faculties to improve their curriculum and support the development of public health messages aimed at wise and safe use of dietary supplements

Alternative medicine · Biology · Body mass index · Curriculum · Dietary supplement · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Health professionals · Population · Public health · The Internet · Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies · Medicine · Muscle metabolism and nutrition · Nursing · Psychology · School Health and Nursing Education · Food Science · Internal Medicine

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