Mississippi Pharmacists’ Perceptions of Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements are often a controversial topic among healthcare professionals. Many view supplements positively and appreciate the health benefits they can provide. Others are wary of the decreased regulation dietary supplements are subject to and believe that the benefits of supplements do not outweigh the risks. Dietary supplements are of particular interest to pharmacists, as they are often sold at their place of work, and pharmacists have to consolidate their patients’ supplement use with their medication use. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the viewpoints of Mississippi pharmacists in relation to dietary supplements. A survey was sent to members of the MPhA (Mississippi Pharmacists Association) to gather information on demographics, perceptions of specific supplements, and perceptions of supplements in general. We found that specific supplements are recommended at a much higher rate than others, with a general trend of vitamins and minerals being recommended more often than herbal and other supplements. Mississippi pharmacists reported that there should be more research into dietary supplements and that their dietary supplement education is not as adequate as it should be. Younger pharmacists also tended to be more skeptical towards dietary supplements. Respondents are extremely interested in continuing education related to dietary supplements, especially as it relates to COVID-19, allowing for an important opportunity for continuing education providers