Okon Thomas, Eickmann Sascha, Wagner Sophia, Baurecht Hansjörg, Herrmann Anne
University of Regensburg, Germany.
Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Germany.
J Prim Care Community Health. 2025 Jan-Dec;16:21501319251333388. doi: 10.1177/21501319251333388. Epub 2025 May 8.
The global dietary supplements (DS) market is expanding, numerous adults regularly consume DS. Potential interactions with prescribed medications raise concerns, but communication about DS intake during medical consultations remains limited. This study explores general practitioners' (GPs) perceptions of communication on DS during periodic health examinations (PHEs).
We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among 162 German GPs between May and August 2021. The pseudonymized web-based questionnaire assessed DS-related was carried out to analyze quantitative data.
In total, 162 general practitioners (GPs) participated in the survey, aged 50.2 years (±11.1). While 64.8% of GPs considered DS to be an important topic, 38.8% rarely or never (<25% of conducted PHE) addressed DS during PHEs. Personal DS use (Cramers' = 0.407; < .001) and considering DS an important topic (Cramers' = 0.231; = .016) were associated with more frequent discussions about DS. Time constraints (24.9%), competing priorities (21.4%), and uncertainty about DS (20.5%) were identified to be the main barriers. Suggestions for improving communication included offering more reliable information and including DS in the medication plan.
This is the first study addressing communication about DS in Germany. Despite recognizing the relevance of DS, GPs' communication practices remain limited due to time constraints and competing priorities. Integrating DS in the PHE could identify potential interactions with medication, strengthen patient-doctor-relationship, and satisfy patients' needs for individualized counseling. Implementation of standardized DS documentation in medication plans and the provision of evidence-based information resources may improve patient safety and fulfill GPs informational needs.
全球膳食补充剂（DS）市场正在扩大，众多成年人经常服用DS。与处方药之间潜在的相互作用引发了担忧，但在医疗咨询期间关于DS摄入的沟通仍然有限。本研究探讨了全科医生（GP）在定期健康检查（PHE）期间对DS沟通的看法。
2021年5月至8月期间，我们对162名德国全科医生进行了一项横断面在线调查。基于网络的匿名问卷评估了与DS相关的内容，并对定量数据进行了分析。
共有162名全科医生参与了调查，年龄为50.2岁（±11.1）。虽然64.8%的全科医生认为DS是一个重要话题，但38.8%的医生在PHE期间很少或从未（<25%的已进行PHE）提及DS。个人使用DS（克莱默斯系数=0.407；<0.001）以及认为DS是一个重要话题（克莱默斯系数=0.231；=0.016）与更频繁地讨论DS相关。时间限制（24.9%）、相互竞争的优先事项（21.4%）以及对DS的不确定性（20.5%）被确定为主要障碍。改善沟通的建议包括提供更可靠的信息以及将DS纳入用药计划。
这是德国第一项针对DS沟通的研究。尽管认识到DS的相关性，但由于时间限制和相互竞争的优先事项，全科医生的沟通实践仍然有限。将DS纳入PHE可以识别与药物的潜在相互作用，加强医患关系，并满足患者对个性化咨询的需求。在用药计划中实施标准化的DS记录以及提供基于证据的信息资源可能会提高患者安全性并满足全科医生的信息需求。
