Prevalence of dietary supplement use and knowledge, attitudes, practice (KAP) and associated factors in student population: A cross-sectional study

Nour A Elsahoryi; Mohanad M Odeh; Seham Abu Jadayil; Andrea M McGrattan; Fwziah J Hammad; Ola D Al-Maseimi; Karem H Alzoubi

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14736

Prevalence of dietary supplement use and knowledge, attitudes, practice (KAP) and associated factors in student population: A cross-sectional study

Heliyon. 2023 Mar 22;9(4):e14736. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14736. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Authors

Nour A Elsahoryi¹, Mohanad M Odeh², Seham Abu Jadayil¹, Andrea M McGrattan³, Fwziah J Hammad⁴, Ola D Al-Maseimi⁵, Karem H Alzoubi^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of Petra, P.O. Box 961343, Amman 11196 Jordan.
² Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan.
³ School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, NE2 4HH, UK.
⁴ Department of Clinical Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box.3030, Irbid 21210, Jordan.
⁵ Department of Allied Medical Sciences, Nutrition and Food Science, Zarqa University College, Al- Balqa' Applied University, Jordan.
⁶ Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
⁷ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan.

Abstract

Dietary supplements (DSs) intake has been increasing worldwide despite no consensus evidence for the efficacy and safety of disease prevention, control, or treatment in nutrient-replete populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of DSs use, knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and associated factors among university students in Jordan. A national cross-sectional study was carried over across universities in Jordan. Participants completed a valid and reliable online questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.802 and correlation coefficients between 0.72 and 0.26). Univariate analyses were used to determine the relationship between variables. Multivariable regression was carried out to identify significant factors contributing DSs usage. A total of 448 university students completed the study (73.7% females). More than half of the students used DSs (60.9%), with single-nutrient ingredient supplements being the most commonly used type. The primary motivators were maintaining health and most students reported no side effects associated with consumption. The results revealed poor knowledge, a negative attitude towards DSs usage among all participants, even non-users, and high-risk practices among the DSs users. Normal weight and overweight individuals were more likely to use DSs (OR:2.88, 95%CI:1.61-5.16, OR:1.95, 95%CI:1.01-3.79, respectively). Low and medium-family income categories were more likely to use DSs than those in the high-income category (OR: 0.04, 95%CI: 0.02-0.07, OR: 0.06, 95CI:0.03-0.11, respectively). Undergraduate students were more likely to use DSs than postgraduate students (OR:5.56, 95%CI:3.19-9.69). In this study, a high prevalence of DSs use was highlighted. The results suggest that nutrition education is required to improve awareness of DSs and to promote safe practices.

Keywords: Attitudes; Dietary supplements; Health knowledge; Jordan; Practice; Prevalence; Students.