Table 1.

Semi-Structured Interview Questions^*

Major Interview Questions
1. If dietary supplements came up during your last office visit:
a. Can you describe in as much detail as possible how supplements came up and what you talked about?
b. What information about the supplements was particularly helpful to discuss?
c. What recommendations were made about the supplements that were discussed?
d. What would you have liked to talk about in more detail, or what didn’t come up?
2. When a new medication is prescribed that may have serious interactions when taken with certain dietary supplements, who is responsible for bringing up or asking about supplement use?
3. In general, how important do you feel it is to talk about supplement use during office visits, and why?
4. What should providers talk about when supplements are brought up in office visits?
5. When is it the patient’s responsibility to ask about whether a supplement might have potential problems?

^*Question 1 is presented as asked to patients who disclosed taking a dietary supplement during an office visit. Patients who did not disclose supplement use during their last office visit were asked to reflect upon a discussion that arose during their last few doctor’s visits, while providers were asked to describe the last patient visit in which they had an extended discussion about an herbal supplement