Nurses’ Use of ‘Wellness’ Supplements During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

Details

• Personal Author:
  Austin SB ; Beccia A ; Chavarro J ; Feeny G ; Hart JE ; Jackson D ; Raffoul A ; Rich-Edwards J ; Sarda V ; Turner SL
• Description:
  Aim: Quantify disparities and identify correlates and predictors of 'wellness' supplement use among nurses during the first year of the pandemic. Design: Longitudinal secondary analysis of Nurses' Health Studies 2 and 3 and Growing Up Today Study data. Methods: Sample included 36,518 total participants, 12,044 of which were nurses, who completed surveys during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020 to April 2021). Analyses were conducted in March 2023. Modified Poisson models were used to estimate disparities in 'wellness' supplement use between nurses and non-healthcare workers and, among nurses only, to quantify associations with workplace-related predictors (occupational discrimination, PPE access, workplace setting) and psychosocial predictors (depression/anxiety, county-level COVID-19 mortality). Models included race/ethnicity, gender identity, age and cohort as covariates. Results: Nurses were significantly more likely to use all types of supplements than non-healthcare workers. Lacking personal protective equipment and experiencing occupational discrimination were significantly associated with new immune supplement use. Depression increased the risk of using weight loss, energy and immune supplements. Conclusion: Nurses' disproportionate use of 'wellness' supplements during the COVID-19 pandemic may be related to workplace and psychosocial stressors. Given well-documented risks of harm from the use of 'wellness' supplements, the use of these products by nurses is of concern. Impact: 'Wellness' supplements promoting weight loss, increased energy, boosted immunity and cleansing of organs are omnipresent in today's health-focused culture, though their use has been associated with harm. This is of added concern among nurses given their risk of COVID-19 infection at work. Our study highlighted the risk factors associated with use of these products (lacking PPE and experiencing occupational discrimination). Findings support prior research suggesting a need for greater public health policy and education around the use of 'wellness' supplements. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Health Personnel Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: COVID-19 Pandemic COVID-19 Inequalities In Health Longitudinal Study Mental Health Nurses Occupational Health Occupational Health Disparities Personal Protective Equipment PPE Psychosocial Factors Workforce Issues

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• ISSN:
  0309-2402
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Boston Region [OSHA] ; Massachusetts
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  80
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069468
• Citation:
  J Adv Nurs 2024 Nov; 80(11):4572-4583
• Contact Point Address:
  Samantha L. Turner, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2716 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA
• Email:
  turners5@chop.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20200608
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Advanced Nursing
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b2bedd20e3bbdb792df5beb5354690142a0ae9247b315df1785bd568ada0ce157709c6f4777f82d3306442d1b712d25d0ed417534a00a967f705cedb89926f3e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207905/cdc_207905_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 703.88 KB ]