Use of Supplementary Medicines/Nutrients and Disease Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The study was conducted to reveal which type of supplementary people used against COVID-19 disease and determine their behaviours/ideas related to the disease. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross-sectional was conducted between April and May 2021. It was limited to people over the age of 18, and the snowball sampling method was used along with a questionnaire form. Results: Of the individuals participating in the study, 74.4% were in the 18-33 age group, 72.6% were female, 64.6% were single, 65.8% had bachelor's degrees and associate degrees, 49.5% were actively working, and 63.13% had 1-10 years of work experience. Of the participants, 72.1% did not catch COVID-19. Medicines or supplementary nutrients are used mainly by individuals in the 34-49 age group (51.7%). Conclusion: The most used supplementary medicines and nutrients were antiviral and anti-flu medicines and paracetamol, vitamins C, D, B, iron, omega-3, green tea, honey, thyme, ginger, lemon, spicy teas, turmeric, and fruit tea. The use of non-medicine complementary methods has increased while studies on the treatment of COVID-19 are ongoing. Among these methods, there is a tendency to mostly use supplementary medicines, nutrients, vitamins, and herbal products, respectively.