Dietary Supplement Consumption among Personnel in Rajavithi Hospital
Charuwan Manmee PhD*, Kanya Janpol MSc*, Tanida Makeaw BSc*
Affiliation : * Division of Medical Research, Department of Research and Technology Assessment, Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Dietary supplement consumption (DSC) has become popular due to its potential ability to increase one’s intake
of nutrients and thereby relieve disease. The amount of dietary supplement use varies depending on setting and subjects, and
thus far, the association between demographic and lifestyle factors and dietary intake have not been studied in hospital
personnel.
Objective : This study aimed to assess dietary supplement use and factors associated with it among personnel in Rajavithi
Hospital.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2016. Four hundred staff who had
worked in the hospital for at least one year were recruited; they completed a self-administered questionnaire which consisted
of queries relating to their demographic characteristics such as age, gender, education, underlying diseases, health behavior,
types of supplement and reasons for choosing to take dietary supplements. The differences between qualitative and quantitative
variables were calculated using Chi-square and Student t-test as appropriate, and binary logistic regression was employed
for factors associated with DSC. The ethics committee of Rajavithi Hospital approved the present study.
Results : The majority of the participants were female, and the mean age (+SD) was 40.40+11.18 years. Just over two-thirds
(67.1%) had normal BMI, and the prevalence of dietary supplement use was 25.5%. Five factors were significantly associated
with the use of dietary supplement: increasing age (OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95 to 0.99; p = 0.008); educational level higher
than bachelor degree (OR = 2.55; 95% CI: 1.23 to 5.28; p = 0.012); stomachache (OR = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.05 to 4.45; p =
0.036); poor sleep quality (OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.17 to 3.18, p = 0.010); and diet avoidance (OR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.09 to
3.31, p = 0.024). The most common reasons for the consumption of dietary supplements were their having obtained the
approval of the food and drug administration, and their easy availability.
Conclusion : Dietary supplement consumption was low compared to the findings of other studies in the literature. Age,
education, stomachache, sleep quality, and diet avoidance were factors associated with DSC. Hospital personnel should take
special care to use supplements rationally and be aware of their risks and adverse side effects.
Keywords : Dietary supplement consumption, Vitamins, Nutritional behaviors, Nutrients
