Patients' perceptions and use of natural health products.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite a lack of good scientific evidence for their benefit, Canadians take a lot of natural health products (NHPs). The objectives of this study were to determine patients' perception of the efficacy, safety and quality of NHPs and to characterize NHP use.

Methods

A standardized, 18-question survey was distributed to the general public through a variety of methods.

Results

A total of 326 individuals completed the survey. Eighty-five percent of respondents take 1 or more NHPs. Forty-seven percent agreed/strongly agreed that NHPs are safer than prescription medications and 24% disagreed/strongly disagreed that prescription medications are more effective than NHPs. Three-quarters of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that health care providers should recomme

SUBMITTER: Barry AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6141934 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature