| Abstract | Upotreba dodataka prehrani namijenjenih djeci je u sve većem porastu, no zbog slabije regulative te općeg dojma kako su dodaci prehrani bezopasni potrebno im je pristupati s oprezom. Cilj ovog istraživanja je dobiti uvid u informiranost roditelja o dodacima prehrani namijenjenih djeci, njihovim stavovima o sigurnosti i djelotvornosti tih proizvoda te navika kad su u pitanju doziranje i primjena uz druge lijekove. U tu svrhu korišten je anketni upitnik kojeg je ispunilo 415 ispitanika iz 17 gradova i 7 naselja. Na temelju odgovora dobivenih iz ankete može se zaključiti kako su najčešće korišteni dodaci prehrani za djecu sirupi za kašalj, probiotici i proizvodi za jačanje imuniteta. Polovica roditelja se u potpunosti ili uglavnom slažu sa tvrdnjama da su ovi proizvodi sigurni, djelotvorni, kvalitetni i korisni. Većina ispitanih roditelja uglavnom ili u potpunosti smatra da proizvođači navode sastav proizvoda (57%) te način primjene i preporučenu dozu (68%), no samo 40% se uglavnom ili u potpunosti slaže da proizvođači navode moguće nuspojave. Većina roditelja se ne slaže sa tvrdnjom da prekoračenje doze ne može naštetiti njihovom djetetu, no ipak ih se 26% uglavnom ili u potpunosti slaže sa tom tvrdnjom. Roditelji su dobro upoznati sa sadržajem umjetnih boja u preparatima, a slabije sa sadržajem alkohola i benzoata. Više od polovice roditelja tvrdi da im je važno da su upoznati sa sadržajem alkohola i benzoata, a 42% ih to tvrdi za umjetne boje. Preko 75% roditelja pridržava se uputa o doziranju te koristi priloženu dozirnu žlicu, no istovremeno ih polovica povremeno, često ili redovito koristi pribor za jelo kao zamjenu. Većina roditelja ne daje dodatke prehrani ako je dijete taj dan povraćalo ili imalo smanjen unos hrane i tekućine, no često ih primjenjuju zajedno sa farmakoterapijom. Gotovo polovica ih redovito obraća pozornost na vrijeme uzimanja dodataka prehrani i lijekova. Velik broj roditelja, njih 46%, tvrdi da druge osobe povremeno, često ili redovito daju dodatke prehrani njihovom djetetu, a 38% tvrdi da to redovito radi uz prethodni dogovor sa tom osobom. Rezultati ankete ukazuju na to da postoji potreba da roditelje treba u većoj mjeri informirati i uputiti na potencijalne i dobre i loše strane primjene dodataka prehrani za djecu. |
| Abstract (english) | The usage of dietary supplements for children is increasing, but because of the mild regulations and the overall impression that dietary supplements are safe, we should approach them with precaution. The goal of this research is to get an insight on how well parents are informed about dietary supplements for children, their stands on safety and efficacy of those products and habits concerning dosing and usage with other medications. In that purpose a form of survey was used, with total of 415 questionnaires obtained from 17 cities and 7 municipalities. On the basis of received surveys it can be concluded that the most often dietary supplements for children are cough syrups, probiotics and immune boosters. Half of the parents mostly or completely agree with the claims that these products are safe, effective, high-quality and useful. Most of the parents mostly or completely believe that the producers declare the ingredients of the product (57%), the methods of application and recommended dosage (68%), but only 40% mostly or completely agree that the producers declare potential adverse effects. Majority of parents don’t agree that exceeding the recommended dose can’t harm their child, but 26% of them still mostly or completely agree. Parents are well aware of the content of artificial colours in the products, and to a lesser extent with the content of alcohol and benzoate. More than half of the parent claim that it is important for them to be informed of the content of alcohol and benzoate, and 42% think the same for artificial colours. Over 75% of parents comply with the dosage instructions and use the enclosed dosing spoon, but at the same time half of them sometimes, often or regularly use cutlery instead. Most of the parents don’t apply dietary supplements if their child has vomited or had diminished intake of food and liquids, but they use them often with other pharmacotherapy. Almost half of them pay attention to the time of application of dietary supplements and medication. A large number of parents, 46% of them, claim that other people sometimes, often or regularly give their children dietary supplements, and 38% claim that they regularly do that only with prior agreement. The results of the survey point out that there is a need to better inform and instruct parents on the potential benefits and harms of dietary supplements for children. |
