Survey of Alternative Supplement Use within a Hospitalized Population

Abstract

Purpose Study objectives were to identify the types of alternative supplements used by a group of hospital inpatients, determine if use continued within the hospital, and ascertain whether health professionals inquired about and documented patients' alternative supplement use. Methods One hundred patients 18 years of age or older from various hospital departments were randomly surveyed about the use of alternative supplements. Results Nineteen patients reported using a total of 16 herbal products. Green tea was the most commonly used herbal product. Of those who admitted taking alternative supplements, 15 of 19 patients (79%) indicated that their outpatient physicians were aware of this use. Only 9 of 19 patients (47%) indicated that their community pharmacists were aware that they used the supplements. Only 36 of 100 inpatients (36%) surveyed were asked about their alternative supplement use during their hospital stays. Of alternative supplement users who were asked about their use of alternative products, 33% indicated that they had not disclosed this use to the clinician. Additionally, 4 of 19 herbal users (21%) indicated that they were using their herbal products as inpatients, and 6 of 19 (32%) herbal users indicated an interest in using their herbs as inpatients, but had not yet done so. Conclusions Clinicians should encourage patients to disclose supplement use upon hospital admission. Pharmacy should be notified of inpatients' alternative supplement use so that potential drug–herb interactions can be avoided.