ASSESSMENT OF THE AWARENESS OF ATHLETES ABOUT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS USAGE IN SAUDI ARABIA.

Abstract

Background: There has been a significant surge in the use of dietary supplements in recent times. Although these supplements may be considered drugs in their physiological effects, individuals must use them under medical supervision to ensure better health outcomes and patient safety. The level of awareness among dietary supplement users plays a vital role in using these products safely and effectively. The current study focuses on examining athletes' awareness levels regarding the use of dietary supplements. Methods: In a cross-sectional online survey study, 598 individuals participated, providing informed consent at the beginning of the survey. The survey, hosted on Google Forms and distributed through a valid URL on the What's App application, included 18 awareness-related statements categorized into knowledge and behavioral clusters. Descriptive statistics and Persons' Chi-squared test were conducted to analyze the responses and their association with participants' characteristics. Results: The results revealed that women demonstrated higher awareness levels than men. A Chi-squared test indicated no connection between gender and the responses but did establish a notable correlation between educational level and the responses. Descriptive statistics indicated that awareness levels within the knowledge and behavioral clusters ranged from 35% to 65%. Conclusion: The study findings indicate a need to raise awareness among individuals who use dietary supplements. It is recommended that health promotion campaigns be conducted to improve health outcomes and promote the safe utilization of dietary supplements.