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Health Professionals’ Knowledge of Probiotics: An International Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Sabina Fijan

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Žitna ulica 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia)

  • Anita Frauwallner

    (Institut Allergosan, Pharmazeutische Produkte Forschungs- und Vertriebs GmbH, Gmeinstrasse 13, 8055 Graz, Austria)

  • László Varga

    (Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Lucsony u. 15-17., 9200 Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary)

  • Tomaž Langerholc

    (Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311 Hoče, Slovenia)

  • Irena Rogelj

    (Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija)

  • Mateja Lorber

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Žitna ulica 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia)

  • Peter Lewis

    (School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia)

  • Petra Povalej Bržan

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 46, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to survey health professionals to investigate their knowledge of probiotics. An online survey was conducted to gather data on the knowledge of health professionals. The online survey was distributed via email and social media platforms using snowball sampling. A total of 1066 health professionals (859; 80.6% female) from 30 countries responded to the survey. Most of the respondents evaluated their knowledge of probiotics as medium (36.4%) or good (36.2%). Only 8.9% of the respondents rated it as excellent. No statistical difference in knowledge was found between male and female health professionals. Over 80% of pharmacists, allied health professionals, medical doctors and dentists, and other health professionals knew the correct definition of probiotics as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”, whereas three quarters of registered nurses and midwives and less than two thirds of psychologists identified the correct definition. Statistically, more female than male health professionals knew the correct definition of probiotics. The most frequently recognized species of bacteria containing probiotic strains were Lactobacillus acidophilus (92%), Bifidobacterium bifidum (82%), and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (62%). The opinions on when it is best to take probiotics were different (χ 2 = 28.375; p < 0.001), with 90.2% of respondents identifying that probiotics have beneficial effects if taken during antibiotic therapy, 83.5% for diarrhea, 70.6% for constipation, 63.3% before traveling abroad, and 60.4% for treating allergies. Almost 79% of health professionals involved in this study have advised their patients to use probiotics and 57.5% of the respondents wanted to learn more about probiotics. All things considered, health professionals have a medium level of knowledge of probiotics, which could be improved by the implementation of targeted learning programs. As probiotics have many beneficial effects in a wide range of health areas, health professionals need to adopt the use of probiotics in clinical practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabina Fijan & Anita Frauwallner & László Varga & Tomaž Langerholc & Irena Rogelj & Mateja Lorber & Peter Lewis & Petra Povalej Bržan, 2019. "Health Professionals’ Knowledge of Probiotics: An International Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:17:p:3128-:d:261640
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marina L Ritchie & Tamara N Romanuk, 2012. "A Meta-Analysis of Probiotic Efficacy for Gastrointestinal Diseases," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(4), pages 1-11, April.
    2. Sabina Fijan, 2014. "Microorganisms with Claimed Probiotic Properties: An Overview of Recent Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-23, May.
    3. Sabina Fijan & Dunja Šulc & Andrej Steyer, 2018. "Study of the In Vitro Antagonistic Activity of Various Single-Strain and Multi-Strain Probiotics against Escherichia coli," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-15, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. García Aguilar E & Leal Martínez-Bujanda J, 2020. "Probiotics and Gastrointestinal Health in Primary Care. A National Survey in Spain," Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 26(5), pages 20235-20240, March.

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