Survey of Alternative Supplement Use within a Hospitalized Population

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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.