Journal of Probiotics & Health
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-8901
ISSN: 2329-8901
Annalisa Passariello, Christian Boggio Marzet, Andras Arato, Roberto Berni Canani, Serhat Bor, Ener Dinleyici, Uday Ghoshal, Francisco Guarner, Aldo Maruy, Ettair Said, Sohail Thobani and Lin Zhang1
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Prob Health
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and current practices of physicians with regards to probiotics in 10 countries. Methods: A closed-ended structured questionnaire was implemented in 10 different countries (Argentina, Peru, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Morocco, Turkey, Pakistan, India and China). Target and Sample Size: 90 to 190 physicians interviewed per country (General Practitioners-GP-, Pediatricians-P-, Gastroenterologists-G-). Total sample: 1670. Representativeness: adapted criteria according to each country?s reality (quota method). Results: 85% doctors in 10 countries felt that they were somewhat or absolutely informed about probiotics, with the highest prevalence among G in China (100%) and GP in China (93%), India (91%). However 39% Moroccan physicians expressed a lack of information. Concerning probiotic definition 94% of Turkish doctors responded according to FAO/WHO criteria while in Pakistan only 39% of doctors did. Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG have been scientifically proven to work in acute infectious diarrhea and antibiotic associated diarrhea (46% and 30%) showing very different scores with no parallel with global guidelines. GPs are less aware of proofs on these strains in these indications whereas P remain the most aware target in the sample (36% boulardii/20% GG in GPs vs 51%/35% in P population). There is an international consensus on safety (84%) with no differences per target. Doctors do recommend probiotics to their family (82%) or themselves (68%). P recommend more frequently probiotics in acute diarrhea (in average 62,4 patients/100). Conclusions: Most doctors feel well informed about probiotics.