Affiliation:
1. School of Pharmacy Monash University Malaysia Bandar Sunway Malaysia
2. Department of Pharmacy Al Rafidain University College Baghdad Iraq
3. Swansea University Medical School Swansea University Swansea UK
4. Department of Dentistry Komar University of Science and Technology Kurdistan‐Region Iraq
5. Department of Radiology Anwar‐Sheikha Medical City, Sulaimani Kurdistan Region Iraq
6. Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Monash University Parkville Victoria Australia
7. Murdoch Children's Research Institute Royal Children's Hospital Parkville Victoria Australia
Abstract
AbstractBackground and AimsThe Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic brought to the forefront various public health approaches, including the consumption of dietary supplements (DS) as a protective measure. With misinformation regarding the virus and the associated benefits of DS prevalent, this study aimed to understand knowledge, habits, and beliefs related to DS usage as a protective measure during the pandemic in Malaysia and Iraq, two countries with deep‐rooted traditions in herbal and supplement usage.MethodsA cross‐sectional research study was conducted between September 2021 and March 2022 using a validated online survey. The participants included Malaysians and Iraqis aged 18 years and above who currently consume DS. Using the SurveyMonkey® platform, data were collected from 2425 respondents (response rate = 60.6%), with analysis carried out using SPSS version 28.ResultsDemographically, the sample had an almost equal distribution of Malaysians (51%) and Iraqis (49%), with a mean age of 30.61. The majority had tertiary education (78.6%), and only a fraction had been infected with COVID‐19 (26.2%). Concerning knowledge, a significant portion exhibited poor understanding (84.2%) of DS's functioning and implications. Regarding habits, many respondents consumed multivitamins (75.2%), with influence largely coming from peers (23.5%) and product leaflets (46.7%). Belief‐wise, about half (49.2%) utilized herbal or supplemental products as a protective measure during the pandemic, with vitamin C with zinc being the most commonly used (45.4%).ConclusionThe study underlines a significant inclination towards DS usage in Malaysia and Iraq, influenced by societal connections and available information. While many believe in the protective capacities of DS against COVID‐19, a substantial knowledge gap persists. It emphasizes the need for evidence‐based awareness campaigns and policies to guide public health decisions.