Background:
Antioxidants are defined as “any substance that is, when present at low concentrations compared with that of an oxidizable substrate, significantly delays, or inhibits oxidation of that substrate.” There is an increase in the frequency of antioxidants’ prescription by many healthcare professionals. Antioxidants available over the counter (OTC) are highly commercialized, but scientific evidence and clinical trials supporting their use are not yet conclusive. Relatively easy access and wide availability are important factors signifying the cost-effectiveness of antioxidant therapy. Antioxidant excess can be harmful by disturbing redox equilibrium; thus, proper guidelines are of utmost importance.
Aim:
1) To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of antioxidants by healthcare professionals in a tertiary care center.
2) To create social awareness about antioxidants among healthcare professionals.
Methods:
Descriptive, cross sectional, data collected through predesigned, and semistructured questionnaires in Google Forms.
Results:
69.3% of participants correctly answered the definition of free radicals (FR). 58.7% of participants correctly answered what are antioxidants. 81.3% of participants correctly answered oxidative stress is when oxidants are produced in excess compared to antioxidants. 94.7% of participants think that there is a need of guidelines for antioxidants’ prescription. 49.4% of participants think that OTC use of antioxidants should be banned.
Conclusion:
Three hundred healthcare professionals who participated in the study have sufficient knowledge about FR, antioxidants, and oxidative stress, but there is a need of further awareness. Attitude and practices of the study participants about antioxidant use were reassuring and participants feel that there should be standard guidelines for their prescription and use.
Key words: Oxidative stress, Antioxidant, Free radical, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice
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