National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center sets new policy on use of herbal and other alternative supplements by patients enrolled in clinical trials.

The nationwide concern over the escalating use of herbal and other alternative dietary supplements is prompting a call for action in health care organizations. Not only is there mounting evidence to support a strong concern for patient safety, but the use of these products by people participating in biomedical research protocols has an added impact on the integrity of the research design and data gathering. These issues are of increasing concern to the National Institutes of Health's hospital for biomedical research, the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center. Surveys completed in 2000 showed that 25-45% of Clinical Center patients reported taking herbal and other alternative dietary supplements. In 2001, the Clinical Center moved forward to develop and implement a policy to guide hospital staff in the management of patient use of herbal and alternative supplements. The policy established the requirement for all patients to be screened for supplement use upon admission or outpatient visit. Continued use of supplement products during hospitalization and/or outpatient enrollment on protocol require a physician's authorizing order. The implementation of this policy has increased awareness and provided an important step forward in protecting patient safety and preserving the scientific integrity of the research at the NIH's Clinical Center.