Knowledge, attitudes and practices of Italian general practitioners on dietary supplements

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Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of Italian general practitioners regarding the use of food supplements. Subject and Methods: A 62-question survey, adapted from a tool used among pharmacists, was sent to Italian general practitioners. The survey contains two sections: A) KAP questions (28 true/false, 34 on a 5-point Likert scale) and B) socio-demographic questions. Results: 233 questionnaires were collected from March to July 2024. 44.6% of responders were male, 54.9% female. The majority (68.2%) came from an urban environment and 53.65% worked with other colleagues. Most of the general practitioners (69.1%) showed an adequate knowledge of the subject (> 60% of correct answers). The overall reliability of the test was rated as acceptable (alfa > 0.7). 98.7% of general practitioners agreed that they have an important role in prescribing dietary supplements, and 98.3% are involved in lifestyles counselling, but only 66.52% felt that they had adequate training on this subject. Conclusion: General practitioners recognize their pivotal role in supplement prescription, but, even if their knowledge scores were adequate, they feel a need of more specific education on the topic.

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