Medical reconciliation of dietary supplements: don't ask, don't tell

To explore inpatient reconciliation of dietary supplement (DS) use and determine characteristics associated with DS documentation.

We analyzed DS use among 558 inpatients recruited from the Re-Engineered Discharge clinical trial to identify: (1) if patients self-reported DS and (2) if DS use was documented at admission. We examined socio-demographics for association with documentation using chi squares and t-tests. Logistic regression was performed to assess adjusted associations with DS documentation.

Sixty percent reported DS use (n=333). Among users, 36% had admission DS documentation, 20% were asked about use at admission, 18% reported disclosing use to a provider, and 48% reported they would continue to use DS. Overall, 6% of participants were asked, disclosed, and had documentation of DS. Logistic regression revealed increased age associated with lower odds of DS documentation. Identifying as Hispanic or African American reduces DS documentation odds compared to those identifying as white.

There is lack of consistent DS medical reconciliation in the inpatient setting. While more than half of patients used DS prior to hospitalization, most were not asked about use on admission.

This study adds to literature on medical reconciliation which requires that providers inquire and document patient DS use.