<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Background:</h3> <p>Probiotics and synbiotics are non-prescription products frequently used by consumers. However, little is publicly known about customers’ product usage and knowledge, and the drivers influencing intake initiation and product selection.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<p>A survey among Polish customers was performed to evaluate their behavior in regard to intake initiation, administration, product selection, knowledge and efficacy experience.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Material and Methods</h3>
<p>Net promoter scores (NPS) were determined for subsets of consumers. A majority of consumers initiate intake because of specific medical needs and recommendation by a physician.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>Application of several individual treatment courses per year is not uncommon and treatment lengths range from about a week to daily intake. Product selection is driven by own past experience, physician recommendation, and to a lesser extent pharmacist recommendation. Consumers’ knowledge about relevant product features is limited. Nearly half of study participants experienced positive effects after administration of probiotics or synbiotics. Good consumer experience correlates with high NPS-values. Results from the study show that physicians and to a lesser extent pharmacists can play an important role in guiding consumers towards a rational usage and selection of probiotics and synbiotics.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>Communication between doctors and patients should focus on the efficacy of product features, as supported by scientific data.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Background: Probiotics and synbiotics are non-prescription products frequently used by consumers. However, little is publicly known about customers’ product usage and knowledge, and the drivers influencing intake initiation and product selection.


Objectives
A survey among Polish customers was performed to evaluate their behavior in regard to intake initiation, administration, product selection, knowledge and efficacy experience.

Material and Methods
Net promoter scores (NPS) were determined for subsets of consumers. A majority of consumers initiate intake because of specific medical needs and recommendation by a physician.

Results
Application of several individual treatment courses per year is not uncommon and treatment lengths range from about a week to daily intake. Product selection is driven by own past experience, physician recommendation, and to a lesser extent pharmacist recommendation. Consumers’ knowledge about relevant product features is limited. Nearly half of study participants experienced positive effects after administration of probiotics or synbiotics. Good consumer experience correlates with high NPS-values. Results from the study show that physicians and to a lesser extent pharmacists can play an important role in guiding consumers towards a rational usage and selection of probiotics and synbiotics.

Conclusions
Communication between doctors and patients should focus on the efficacy of product features, as supported by scientific data.

Probiotics and Synbiotics: The Consumers Perspective

Journal of Health Study and Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Probiotics and Synbiotics: The Consumers Perspective"}

Background: Probiotics and synbiotics are non-prescription products frequently used by consumers. However, little is publicly known about customers’ product...

Probiotics and Synbiotics: The Consumers Perspective

Data publikacji: 06 lis 2023

Zakres stron: 153 - 173

Otrzymano: 28 cze 2023

Przyjęty: 21 lip 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jhsm-2023-0010

Słowa kluczowe
colonization resistance, consumer survey, gut microbiota, probiotics, synbiotics, net promoter score, physician recommendation

© 2023 Małgorzata Bernatek et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Probiotics and Synbiotics: The Consumers Perspective

Data publikacji: 06 lis 2023

Zakres stron: 153 - 173

Otrzymano: 28 cze 2023

Przyjęty: 21 lip 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jhsm-2023-0010

Słowa kluczowecolonization resistance, consumer survey, gut microbiota, probiotics, synbiotics, net promoter score, physician recommendation

© 2023 Małgorzata Bernatek et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Słowa kluczowe
colonization resistance, consumer survey, gut microbiota, probiotics, synbiotics, net promoter score, physician recommendation