Odnos zaposlenih v lekarnah do probiotičnih izdelkov

Lakner, Patricija (author), Treven, Primož (mentor), Fijan, Sabina (comentor)

Evropska agencija za varno hrano (EFSA) izraz ''probiotični'' interpretira kot neodobreno zdravstveno trditev, kar pomeni da navajanje funkcionalnih probiotičnih lastnosti, kakor tudi sam izraz »probiotik«, na deklaracijah živil in prehranskih dopolnilih ni dovoljeno. Zato imajo lekarniški delavci ključno vlogo pri informiranju strank o probiotikih. Namen magistrske naloge je bil ugotoviti, kakšen odnos in prakso imajo lekarniški delavci glede probiotikov ter katere so najpogostejše težave, na katere naletijo pri svetovanju strankam. Anketirali smo magistre farmacije in farmacevtske tehnike v lekarnah vseh slovenskih regij (brez bolnišničnih lekarn in zasebnikov). Z našim anketiranjem smo zajeli 14,4 % (N=237) populacije vseh zaposlenih farmacevtskih delavcev v javnih lekarnah. Anketiranci so svoje znanje o probiotikih ocenjuje boljše (3,41 od 5), kot znanje strank (2,53 od 5). Večina (84 %) se jih na temo probiotikov izobražuje enkrat letno ali pogosteje, pogostost izobraževanj pa je vplivala na samooceno – tisti, ki so se izobraževali pogosteje so podali višjo samooceno znanja. Kljub temu si 97 % vseh anketiranih želi dodatnih usposabljanj na področju probiotikov. Najpogostejši vir znanja o probiotikih so strokovna izobraževanja, obiski strokovnih sodelavcev in branje strokovnih člankov. Ugotovili smo tudi, da mlajši lekarniški delavci, z delovnimi izkušnjami do 5 let, spletnim virom pripisujejo večji pomen kot tisti z večletnimi izkušnjami (p<0,05). Večina (75 %) anketirancev samih predlaga probiotično terapijo, kadar oceni, da bi stranki terapija koristila. Farmacevtski delavci najpogosteje svetujejo probiotike pri težavah povezanih s prebavo (91 %), zelo redko pa pri drugih zdravstvenih indikacijah, kot so urogenitalna vnetja (4 %), težave s kožo (2 %) ter alergije in avtoimunske bolezni (1 %). Kot glavne zadržke pri svetovanju omenjajo kontradiktorne študije (38 %), zavračanje strank (22 %) ter nejasno zakonodajo (21 %). Več kot 50 % farmacevtskih delavcev meni, da so probiotična zdravila brez recepta (OTC) učinkovitejša od prehranskih dopolnil predvsem zaradi strožje regulative. Izraz »probiotik« je med farmacevtskimi delavci zelo dobro poznan, a le 44 % anketirancev jo dojema kot zdravstveno trditev, zato izražajo potrebo po jasnejši zakonodajni ureditvi in enotni interpretaciji izraza.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: prehranska dopolnila, probiotiki, probiotični izdelki, farmacevti, znanje o probiotikih
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publisher: [P. Lakner]
• Year: 2025
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-174492
• UDC: 613.292:615.15
• COBISS.SI-ID: 251610883
• Publication date in RUL: 03.10.2025

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Pharmacy employees' attitude towards probiotic products

Abstract

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) interprets the term ''probiotic'' as a non-authorised health claim, which means that the use of functional probiotic properties and the term "probiotic" is not permitted on the labels of foods and food supplements. Pharmacists therefore play a key role in informing customers about probiotics. The aim of the master's thesis was to identify the attitudes and practises of pharmacists regarding probiotics and the most common problems they encounter when advising customers. We surveyed pharmaceutical technicians and pharmacists with a master’s degree in pharmacies from all Slovenian regions (excluding hospital and private pharmacies). Our survey included 14.4 % (N=237) of all pharmacists employed in public pharmacies. Respondents rated their knowledge of probiotics better (3.41 out of 5) than the knowledge of customers (2.53 out of 5). The majority (84 %) receive training on probiotics once a year or more, and the frequency of training influenced self-assessment – those who received more frequent training gave a higher self-assessment of their knowledge. Nevertheless, 97 % of all respondents would like additional training on probiotics. The most common source of knowledge about probiotics is professional education, visits from pharmaceutical sales representatives and reading professional articles. We also found that younger pharmacy staff with up to 5 years of professional experience placed greater importance on online sources than those with several years of experience (p<0.05). The majority (75 %) of respondents suggest probiotic therapy if they believe the customer would benefit from the therapy. Pharmacists are most likely to advise probiotics for digestive problems (91 %) and less likely to advise probiotics for other health indications such as urogenital inflammation (4 %), skin problems (2 %) and allergies and autoimmune diseases (1 %). The main obstacles to counselling are contradictory studies (38 %), customer rejection (22 %) and unclear legislation (21 %). More than 50 % of pharmacists believe that over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are more effective than dietary supplements, mainly due to stricter regulations. The term "probiotic" is well known among pharmacists, but only 44 % of respondents perceive it as a health claim, which is why they call for clearer legislation and a standardised interpretation of the term.

• Keywords: food supplements, probiotics, probiotic products, pharmacists, knowledge of probiotics