Knowledge Gaps and Educational Interventions in Dietary Supplement Regulations Among Resident Physicians.

backgroundDietary supplement usage has significantly increased in the United States, even though dietary supplements lack premarketing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and are susceptible to adulteration and contamination. This, in addition to a historical lack of standardized educational content for physicians on dietary supplements, poses major safety concerns.

objectiveThis study aims to evaluate internal resident physicians' knowledge of dietary supplement regulations with and without the provision of educational material.

methodsA quasi-experimental quality improvement study was conducted at a community-based academic tertiary care hospital. Surveys were distributed to all residents to evaluate their knowledge of dietary supplement regulations with and without the provision of educational materials.

resultsOut of 100 possible participants, the initial survey had a 56% response rate, with a 42.8% average knowledge test score. Notably, 75% of participants correctly identified that dietary supplements do not require FDA approval before marketing. However, knowledge gaps were evident in efficacy, safety, adverse event reporting, and third-party certification awareness. There were no significant differences in knowledge based on gender, post-graduate year, or educational track. The post-intervention survey, with a 29% response rate, demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge across all tested aspects of FDA regulations, with an average test score of 75%.

conclusionThe study found a knowledge gap among resident physicians regarding FDA regulations of dietary supplements that can be addressed with short and structured educational material.