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Original Research

Characteristics, Preferences and Health Care Utilization in Patients Using a Dietary Supplement for Improving Sleeping Disturbances: Results from an Explorative Online Survey

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Pages 2531-2539 | Published online: 30 Dec 2020
 

Abstract

Purpose

Sleeping disturbances are highly prevalent in the general population, and pharmacological drug treatment harbours the risk of serious side effects. Many affected persons use dietary supplements for self-treating their symptoms, but little is known about the specific characteristics and preferences of these patients. Even less evidence exists about the consequences of a specific dietary supplement usage on health care utilization. The aim of this study was to explore characteristics, preferences and the impact on health care utilization in patients using a specific over-the-counter dietary supplement, which is promoted for improving sleeping disturbances.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a structured survey and invited a sample of 297 customers of a specific dietary supplement to participate. The survey was open between June and September 2020. Participants were invited by email. All participants accepted an informed consent.

Results

A total of 127 customers participated in the survey (participation rate: 42.8%). Of them, 87.7% were female and the mean age 50.5 years. Participants reported an overall good improvement of symptoms (7.66 on a ten-point Likert-scale) and showed a strong belief in the effectiveness of supplements in general; 67% of participants reported that the intake led to fever physician encounters, and 48.3% reported that they could stop the intake of other pharmaceutical sleeping drugs.

Conclusion

A significant proportion of participants reported a substantial reduction in pharmaceutical drug use and health care utilization. While these self-reports lack an adequate control, they are still real consumer experiences, and the large beneficial effects – whether placebo or not – explain the popularity of such supplements and their therapeutic potential in sleeping disorders.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

The study was sponsored by SKE Vital. The sponsor had no influence on conceptualization of the study and analysing and interpreting of the obtained data.