Knowledge and Use of Dietary Supplement Products by Deaf Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and use of dietary supplement products (DSP) among the deaf athletes of the Turkish Deaf Sports Federation. A total 74 voluntary athletes from various sports, 11 female and 63 male athletes (Mage=23.62±5.38 years) participated in this study. The data was collected through the survey method and was analyzed by Fischer Exact test, frequencies and percentage distribution. As a result, it has been determined that 39.2% of deaf athletes have knowledge about DSP and athlete diets; their rate of DSP use increases as their educational level increases; the rate of DSP use in national athletes is higher and that taekwondo athletes do not use DSP while a rate of at least 30.8% DSP use is evident in other branches. In addition, the findings show that the deaf athletes do not have sufficient knowledge about their DSP use and they have problems in accessing reliable information about this issue.