Assessment of public knowledge and perception about the use of probiotics

Abstract

IntroductionIn Jordan, there is a remarkable lack of public awareness about probiotics and available guidance on their use. This study was designed to evaluate Jordanians’ awareness and perception about probiotics and their willingness to use these nutritional supplements as a part of their daily diet. MethodsThis cross-sectional survey was conducted among the Jordanian public. During the study period, participants were invited to fill out an electronic-based questionnaire. ResultsA total of 508 people agreed to participate in the study. Among them, 64.0% (n = 325) reported that they were willing to take probiotics. Only 17.1% of the surveyed participants (n = 90) knew that probiotics were not dead microorganisms. Only 55.0% of participants (n = 279) believed that probiotics were safe to consume. In addition, 75.0% (n = 381) believed that community pharmacists had a limited role in improving public knowledge about probiotics. Regression analysis showed that participants with higher income (>500 JD/month) and those who had medical degrees had greater knowledge about probiotics compared to others (P <0.001). ConclusionThis study demonstrated that there is inadequate knowledge about probiotics and their potential use. More effort is needed to provide more information about the benefits of probiotics. Greater knowledge could be achieved by encouraging medical doctors and pharmacists to inform the public about probiotics.