Measuring Prescription Pattern of Nutraceuticals with Special Focus on Protein Supplements in Tier-1 Indian City

Abstract

Nutraceuticals are playing vital role in today’s time given the recent changes in lifestyle, dietary patterns, and increased stress due to work related pressure. They can be organized in several ways depending upon its ease of understanding and application, i.e. for academic instruction, clinical trial design, functional food development or dietary recommendations. A study was carried out for a period of two months to assess the awareness and prescription pattern of nutraceuticals with reference to protein supplements and to evaluate factors that will drive the future demand. Responses were obtained from Doctors and chemists from a single metro city in India. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and frequency distribution valid percentage was calculated. Chi-Square test was performed to measure the association between the demographic factors to preferences for protein supplements. p- Value was calculated and α- value of 0.05 or less was considered significant. The results show that the maximum protein supplement was prescribed in the age group of 20-40 years. Doctors usually prescribe protein (44%) for convalescent followed by pre and post-operative cases (40%). Haematinics are the drugs, which are co-prescribed 30% of the times with protein. Responses from Chemists showed that self-prescription was prevalent amongst their buyer and many factors were identified which leads to self-prescription, amongst which buyer’s own previous experience was found to be significant (p-value-0.03). The study has helped to reveal the prescription pattern and practise of the doctors and of the factors leading to self-prescription.