MARCELO H.

DEL PILAR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Bagong Bayan, City of Malolos Bulacan 3000

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Dietary Supplement Knowledge Between Allied and Non-allied Medicine

Senior High School Learners

Members:

Azon, Altheia Dhevine L.

Belen, Nina Raiza

Delan, Aleena R.

Donguines, Anne Gerard V.

Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School

Senior High School Department

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

School Year 2023-2024

 MARCELO H. DEL PILAR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Bagong Bayan, City of Malolos Bulacan 3000

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Table of Contents

Title Page ........................................................................................................................ 1

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ 2

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..3-5

Statement of the Problem ................................................................................. 5-6

Theoretical/Conceptual Framework ....................................................................... 6-7

Significance of the Study .................................................................................... 7

Scope and Delimitations ..................................................................................... 8

Definition of Terms........................................................................................ 8-10

Methods......................................................................................................................... 10

Research Design................................................................................................ 10

Respondents and Sampling Method............................................................. 10-11

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Introduction

A wise customer is a healthy consumer, especially when buying medicinal

supplements. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of dietary supplements became

prevalent, leading to the expansion of their market. Dietary supplements are sold over the

counter even without a prescription from healthcare professionals, making them accessible

for anyone to buy. However, this also led to the purchase and consumption of unregistered

dietary supplements in the Philippines. This puts consumers who are uneducated in this

area at risk. Students are most vulnerable as they cannot easily seek professional help or

have extensive knowledge in the field of pharmacy. Especially in this day and age where

information is just one click away from people. Due to its convenience, younger

generations tend to rely on the Internet for information, including the usage of dietary

supplements.

It is crucial to be critical in sorting information and knowledge about dietary

supplements held by the public, not only for cognitive reasons but also to advocate

educational campaigns that lead to informed decisions by the public in regard to dietary

supplement consumption (Karbownik et al., 2021). According to the Dietary Supplement

Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), dietary supplements are products that do not

include drugs and contain an ingredient intended to supplement the diet. The ingredients

most commonly include vitamins, minerals, and other less familiar substances; such as

herbals, amino acids, and enzymes. Curing deficiency diseases was the main purpose of

vitamins and minerals in the past. But nowadays, supplements are used to reduce the risk
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Bagong Bayan, City of Malolos Bulacan 3000

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of chronic diseases, of which the origins are complex (Lentjes, 2018). According to a

recent study conducted, the most common purpose for taking dietary supplements was to

maintain good health (26.4%), ensure adequate nutrition (24.6%), satisfy energy needs

(23.7%), achieve weight loss (6.4%), treat minor illnesses (5.1%), and prevent diseases

(4.8%) (Žeželj et al., 2018). Comparing it with multiple previously conducted studies, the

main reason stayed consistent: to maintain good health. Although dietary supplements aid

in maintaining good overall health, they are not risk-free for specific groups, such as people

with chronic medical conditions, children, and pregnant women. Huge doses of even safe

dietary supplements, vitamins, and minerals can result in direct toxicity to people who

consume them. Excessive use of calcium might lead to renal complications, while

excessive use of vitamin A has been linked to liver abnormalities and some central nervous

system adverse effects (Alowais & Selim, 2019). Thus, it is really important to provide

accurate information about the consumption and effects of dietary supplements to prevent

negative outcomes.

Up until recently, there was not a lot of scientific research on dietary supplements.

However, its usage has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, and it has become a

matter of consumer interest (Dwyer et al., 2018). A study conducted in Malaysia

discovered that there is still limited awareness about dietary supplements among college

students, even for pharmaceutical students (Chiba et al., 2020). In South Korea, university

students take dietary supplements regardless of their expectations about the efficacy of the

product (Choi, 2019). In Saudi Arabia, there has been a prevalence of supplement usage

among health science students, despite the lack of accurate information (Alowais & Selim,
 MARCELO H. DEL PILAR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
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2019). Although studies have already been conducted globally, there is still a lack of

accurate scientific studies and information about dietary supplement consumption here in

the Philippines. In recent studies, there has been a surge in younger age groups consuming

and buying dietary supplements when they were most commonly used by older people in

the past (Choi, 2019). Thus, conducting this study can help broaden the knowledge of

dietary consumption among Filipino senior high school students. More specifically,

knowing if there will be a significant difference in the knowledge of allied medicine

specialization of the strand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)

and non-allied medicine students.

Statement of the Problem

The overall purpose of this study is to determine the significant difference between

the knowledge of allied and non-allied medicine senior high school students about dietary

supplements. Specifically, this study will answer the following questions:

1. What is the level of dietary supplement knowledge among allied and non-allied

medicine senior high school learners of Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School?

2. What is/are the purpose/s of the allied and non-allied senior high school learners of

Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School to take dietary supplements?

3. Is there a statistically significant difference in the mean dietary supplement

knowledge score between allied and non-allied medicine senior high school

learners of Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School?

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Bagong Bayan, City of Malolos Bulacan 3000

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Conceptual Framework

The study will use the Input Process Output (IPO) model to identify the knowledge

of non-allied and allied medicine students on dietary supplements. The model includes

respondents' profiles, the knowledge of learners on dietary supplements, and the population

of those taking them. The data-gathering process will include using questionnaires,

surveying the population, and analyzing statistical data. The proponents aim to identify

significant differences in knowledge between allied and non-allied medicine senior high

school learners and understand the considerations and reasons for buying and taking
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supplements. The study's conceptual framework, Figure 1, provides a brief insight into the

materials and data-gathering process for this research.

Significance of the Study

The study aims to determine if there is a significant difference in knowledge between

allied and non-allied medicine senior high school learners. Thus, this study may be

substantial for the following beneficiaries:

Students. The students can benefit from the research by recognizing gaps in their

understanding and knowledge regarding dietary supplements. The information can

be use to improve their education and potentially enhance their health and wellness.

Teachers. The study's findings can be used by teachers to inform curriculum

development, ensuring that student needs and knowledge levels are met involving

dietary supplement consumption.

Pharmacists. It can provide a guide in knowing more about the awareness of dietary

supplement consumption among senior high school learners that can further

improve their knowledge and way of handling dietary supplements.

Future Researchers. The study can serve as a foundation for further studies, guide

educational initiatives, and potentially contribute to improved dietary supplement

knowledge and health outcomes among high school learners.

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Scope and Delimitation

The scope of this study will be limited to senior high school learners at Marcelo H.

Del Pilar National High School. The research focuses on the comparison of dietary

supplement knowledge between allied and non-allied medicine students within the school.

The allied medicine group includes students from the STEM strand, while the non-allied

medicine group encompasses learners from other strands such as HUMSS, TVL, and AAD.

The study will be limited to gathering and analyzing data related to the dietary supplement

knowledge of the Allied Medicine and Non-Allied Medicine strands. It does not encompass

other aspects of their health behaviors or academic performance. The time frame for data

collection will be limited to the school year 2023-2024 to ensure the practicality and

feasibility of the research within the constraints of the academic calendar. Furthermore, the

study will employ quantitative research methods and not delve into qualitative or mixed-

methods approaches. It will use a cross-sectional survey as its research design and

questionnaires as research instruments for data gathering.

Definition of Terms

Dietary supplements. It refers to ingestible oral products intended to supplement an

additional diet to benefit health (Gurley, 2023). It contains at least one or a combination of

vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, amino acids, and metabolites. It can also be in the form

of tablets, capsules, powders, gummies, liquids, and so much more. Dietary supplements

are often sold over the counter (FDA, 2022).

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Knowledge. It is the condition of understanding something with familiarity gained

through experience (Merriam-Webster, 2023). If a person is certain of their knowledge,

they are more likely to produce a reliable response. Knowledge is usually measured by

composing a fair and unbiased questionnaire about the topic (Hunt, 2003).

Methods

Research Design

This section will discuss the survey research design, which will be used by the

investigators in this study to determine the significant difference between the knowledge

of allied and non-allied medicine senior high school students about dietary supplements.

According to Fowler (2008), “survey research provides a quantitative or numeric

descriptions of trends, attitudes, or opinions of a population by studying a sample of that

population. It includes cross-sectional and longitudinal studies using questionnaires or

structured interviews for data collection—with the intent of generalizing from a sample to

a population." This study will utilize the cross-sectional survey research design to

determine the characteristics of the participants but not the cause-and-effect relationship

between the two variables (Mahmutovic, 2021). The investigators will use the cross-

sectional survey research design to analyze the data that will be collected from different

groups at a single point in time (Thomas, 2022). In this study, the researchers will collect

data from different sections of allied and non-allied medicine senior high school students

at a single point in time. This way, the investigators can determine if there is a significant
 MARCELO H. DEL PILAR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Bagong Bayan, City of Malolos Bulacan 3000

x SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

difference between the knowledge of allied and non-allied medicine senior high school

students about dietary supplements.

Respondents and Sampling Method

The research will focus on Senior High School learners at Marcelo H. Del

Pilar National High School in 2023-2024, selected from various academic strands (STEM,

HUMSS, ABM, AAD, and TVL). Non-probability stratified sampling method will be used

to ensure representative samples from different subgroups within the population. This

method categorizes learners into distinct groups based on their affiliation with allied or

non-allied medicine programs, allowing for a more accurate analysis of dietary supplement

knowledge within each subgroup. The population will be divided into five senior high

school strands, and the sufficient sample size will be determined using Slovin's formula.

The researchers will choose a 95% confidence interval and a margin of error of 5%,

ensuring that the true value will fall within the obtained confidence interval and the sample

estimate has an error rate of 5%, which is acceptable for most studies. The reasons for

choosing a 95% confidence interval and a margin of error of 5% are varied, but they usually

balance the need for precision with practical feasibility. A 95% confidence interval is

considered a good all-around level of confidence that allows for some room for error while

still offering reasonable precision and accuracy. A margin of error of 5% is acceptable for

many studies, especially those not aiming for extremely precise estimates or for which

achieving a smaller margin of error due to practical limitations is difficult.

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Research Instrument

The research instrument that the researchers will use is a modified close ended

questionnaire. A close ended questionnaire is a type of questionnaire that gives the

respondents a predefined set of answers per question (The Editorial Team, 2024). This type

of questionnaire provides an easy way for the respondents to choose and identify their

preferred answers by just simply choosing from the provided answer choices. This also

allows easy statistical interpretation of data for the researchers. Thus, a close ended

questionnaire will be used, more specifically a modified close ended questionnaire. A

modified questionnaire is the deliberate modification of questions to create a new set of

questions that will be more appropriate to the study of the researchers (Mohler et al., 2016).

The researchers will be using a standardized questionnaire from previous related studies

that will be then modified to find the level of knowledge of allied medicine and non allied

medicine learners about dietary supplements.

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Data Collection

To start the data-gathering process, the propose will send a letter of request to

Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School's principal to approve the data collection.

The researchers will ensure adherence to the ethical considerations set by the

school. In addition to the school's moral standard, the student inquirers will follow the

Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and ensure the participants'

confidentiality. The researcher will inform the participants that their participation in the

study is voluntary, and they may withdraw any time they feel uncomfortable answering.

To guide the students, the proponents will explain all the possible risks before signing

consent forms before giving out questionnaires.

When the investigators and respondents have come to terms, the researchers will

gather the data and hand out the questionnaires to the selected respondents. The

questionnaires will include directions or instructions on how to use the research instrument.

Everything discussed beforehand will also be in the instrument of the study.

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References

Fowler, F. J. (2009). Survey Research Methods (4th ed.).

https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452230184

Mahmutovic, J. (2021, November 16). What is a Cross-Sectional Survey and Why Should
I Use One? SurveyLegend. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from
https://www.surveylegend.com/survey-examples/cross-sectional-surveys/

Thomas, L. (2022, May 5). Cross-Sectional Study | Definitions, Uses & Examples. Scribbr.
Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/research-
methods/cross-sectional-design/