Lebanese Pediatricians’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Patterns toward Probiotics

Background: Over the past few years, the use of probiotics increased remarkably, along with the increase in antibiotics resistance. With the wide variety of probiotic strains and different brands available in the Lebanese market, a major concern has arisen regarding prescriber awareness and knowledge of probiotics and their use. The goal of this study is to assess Lebanese pediatricians' probiotic knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns. Materials and Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional observational study was carried out. It included Lebanese pediatricians who were chosen by convenience. Participants were required to complete a four-part questionnaire that included demographics; knowledge about probiotics, attitude and practice, and a total of 12 points knowledge score was estimated. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 126 of the 149 eligible pediatricians. 89.7% of participants were familiar with the correct definition of probiotics. The calculated median knowledge score was 8 [6-9] points. According to the bivariate analysis, pediatricians prescribing probiotics showed higher knowledge score in comparison to those who do not (P value=0.007); In terms of consultations per day, those who examined 10-20 patients per day had a significantly higher knowledge score than those with less than 10 and more than 20 patients per day. (P value=0.004). Conclusion: The data showed a good knowledge, that is positively affecting the pattern of prescription of probiotics, yet it could be further improved.