Attitudes of female respondents about the use of immunity supplements before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

  • Hana Omerović PZU Verdant Pharmacies, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, PhD student, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4007-5221
  • Nejra Ćibo PhD student, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8977-7200
  • Zarema Obradović Department for sanitary engineering, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4581-5863
  • Đemil Omerović Ortopedics and Traumatology Clinic, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Edina Tanović Clinic for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9862-5003
  • Emina Rovčanin JZU Pharmacies of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17532/jhsci.2022.1647

Keywords:

Immunity, COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacies

Abstract

Introduction: With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, people’s dietary habits have changed, so the importance of additional supplementation has become a current topic. The aim of this study is to analyze the attitude of female respondents toward dietary supplementation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: The research is a cross-sectional study conducted in two different time periods. The sample consisted of two female subsamples who purchased immunity preparations from Verdant Pharmacy before the pandemic (n = 81) and during the pandemic (n = 120). Female respondents in both subsamples were: Of the same age, in the same health condition, residing in the same area (municipality), users of a local pharmacy located near the health center. The research instrument was a non-standardized questionnaire “Assessment of attitudes towards nutritional supplementation,” which consisted of nine questions.
Results: During the pandemic COVID-19, the attitude toward the use of preparations to strengthen immunity differs by 7% compared to the pre-pandemic check. The attitude toward the use of preparations to strengthen immunity throughout the year increased by 32.3% (53.3%) during the pandemic, and the attitude toward the choice of preparations to strengthen immunity changed by 13% during the pandemic COVID-19 based on own experience and by 17% based on the recommendation of the pharmacist.
Conclusion: The pandemic COVID-19 has contributed to a change in female respondents’ attitudes toward nutritional supplementation to strengthen the immune system during a pandemic. With the help of the media, public health recommendations, and people’s fear of disease, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a change in respondents’ attitudes compared to the pre-pandemic period.


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Published

26.04.2022

How to Cite

1.
Attitudes of female respondents about the use of immunity supplements before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. JHSCI [Internet]. 2022 Apr. 26 [cited 2024 Dec. 6];12(1):83-9. Available from: https://www.jhsci.ba/ojs/index.php/jhsci/article/view/1647