Knowledge attitudes and practices regarding the use of prebiotics and probiotics for respiratory infections among Saudi healthcare students

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 823 health science students to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of health science students regarding honey as a prebiotic and yoghurt as a probiotic, using an online questionnaire. Prebiotics and probiotics offer health benefits for the digestive system, respiratory health, and immune system, and healthcare providers should be well-informed to advise patients effectively. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. The results reveal significant differences in knowledge and practices across gender, geographical location, and smoking status. Females consistently outperformed males, with higher scores in knowledge assessment (3.9 vs. 3.4), practices and usage (3.7 vs. 3.1), awareness and attitudes (4.2 vs. 3.6), comparative perception (3.9 vs. 3.3), and recommendations (4.0 vs. 3.5). The data indicates that honey (39.5%) is the most preferred natural remedy for respiratory health among Saudi healthcare students, followed by yoghurt (26.9%). In comparison, 22.7% consider both equally beneficial. Using the Chi-square test (χ²) to determine statistical significance and Cramér's V to measure effect size, the study found that 45.9% of participants demonstrated high knowledge of honey's health benefits, with males (48.2%) exhibiting slightly greater awareness than females (44.2%). The findings indicated that healthcare students in Saudi Arabia have good knowledge about probiotics. A structured and inclusive health education approach can increase acceptance of natural health solutions, improving respiratory health outcomes across various populations. The study suggests that educational interventions on prebiotics and probiotics should be incorporated into health programs to help students manage respiratory health using safe, natural therapies.