Table 3.
Examples of Supplement-Related Information that Providers and Patients Felt Were Important to Discuss During Office Visits (in Order of Frequency of Mention)
| Important topics | Examples from Interviews |
|---|---|
| Raised by both providers and patients | |
| Supplements taken |
Provider 46: That should be a basic question, “What supplements are you taking?” Patient 362: The patient should report whatever they’re taking. |
| Advice (give opinion or recommendation) |
Provider 97: …my place is more to advise. Patient 971: I would like them to reiterate, “… These supplements are okay.” |
| Interactions |
Provider 15: The medical provider that is prescribing a medication or prescription medication should definitely let the patient know about the potential drug interaction, so as to not take with those [supplements]. Patient 521: If there’s something that can interact and cause damage to [a] patient, that needs to be discussed. |
| Benefits | Patient 776: I would like them to talk about the pros and the cons and how I can benefit from it. |
| Side effects/adverse events |
Provider 40: Just I like to educate them that you know, just because it’s natural doesn’t mean there’s not side effects. Patient 425: I think doctors and physicians should inform their patients of…potential side effects… |
| Safety/harm |
Provider 96: Safety with taking them - that’s where I think I try to provide…assistance and try to guide the patient. Patient 906: I think it’s the physician’s responsibility to tell [patients] what is okay and what is safe. |
| Directions for use | Provider 25: Dosage I think is—I think is helpful… |
| Reason for use | Provider 58: I like to ask…what they’re taking it for. |
| Alternative/adjunct treatments |
Provider 97: …certainly if there’s a reluctancy to use pharmaceuticals, I will bring up the issue of some of the herbal supplements. Patient 667: Anytime somebody is on medication, I think herbal supplements ought to come up to find out what could be used. |
| Efficacy (how well it works) |
Provider 73: We sort of talk about…the effectiveness and claims for effectiveness. Patient 591: …I would like for her to talk about efficacy, effectiveness…or her opinion of efficacy about that particular supplement. |
| Evidence for use |
Provider 12: I also like to discuss with them just kind of what the studies have shown, if it helps if doesn’t help. Patient 618: I’d like them to tell me about any new research they know about. |
| Patient expectations/ preferences |
Provider 14: if the patient has a very strong opinion on the supplements they’re taking, they should certainly make the doctor aware of that too. Patient 363: [The provider should ask,] “What do you expect from it?” |
| Raised predominantly by providers | |
| Source of information | Provider 66: Are they going based off of anecdotal evidence from friends, the internet? So sources of information are important to me. |
| Provider knowledge / experience |
Provider 30: If I really don’t know what…the supplement is, I tell them that I don’t know what this is. Patient 157: I want them to be honest and tell me they don’t know about it, and not just tell me not to take it. |
| Cost/affordability | Provider 57: I tell them just to be careful and not to spend a lot of money, because…that is one of my concerns. |
| Regulatory issues | Provider 88: I feel almost responsible to let them know [supplements] are not FDA regulated. |