Date: {{$ActivityAssignDate}}

Dear Dr. {{$doctorName}},

Subject: To participate in cross sectional survey to understand perception and practices of probiotic use in gastrointestinal diseases amongst Indian health care professionals

The intestinal microbiome is composed of microbes that reside in the gut and may be altered by diet, lifestyle, exposure to toxins, and antibiotic use. There is a relationship between disease, health, the immune system, and changes in the microbiota

The gut microbiota is increasingly considered as a symbiotic partner and an additional organ that contributes to the proper physiological functioning of the body. Dysbiosis, defined as an imbalance in the population of gut microbiota, has important functional consequences and has been implicated in numerous digestive pathologies (e.g. chronic inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer).

Probiotics are products containing live microorganisms at a dose that has been shown to be of beneficial to the host. Probiotics have an important role in the maintenance of immunologic equilibrium in the GI tract through direct interaction with immune cells.

Probiotics have been proposed as a treatment for many disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Their functions, after entering the host digestive tract include regulation of local immunity and modification of the inflammatory response, improvement of the barrier functions of gut and colonization resistance.

Probiotics can influence gut functions through promoting changes in the enteric flora, for example, by augmenting the predominance of lactobacilli/bifidobacteria or the elimination of pathogens, in order to counteract pathogen-related inflammation or fermentation.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, scientific interest in probiotics has substantially increased, partly because of recent knowledge about the gut microbiota and its role in health and disease. Probiotics are being globally acknowledged and stand out from conventional treatments owing to their exceptional efficacy and lack of unwanted effects.

In recent years, the list of indications for which probiotics are considered potentially beneficial have expanded. However, the correct use of probiotics in clinical practice by healthcare professionals (HCPs) appears to be complicated by a limited knowledge of the scientific basis for their use. Though, understanding the perceptions of physicians and their recommendation behavior regarding probiotics is vital, their stance regarding current probiotics use is underreported.

There is limited data available on health care professionals’ perception and current clinical practices of probiotic use in gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, this multicentric survey is designed to understand the perception and current practices of probiotic use in gastrointestinal diseases amongst Indian health care professionals.

If you agree to participate, you will need to provide assessment response, on to the standard questionnaire form. A link will be provided for the same on your registered email address.

We trust you and we are partners in safe and effective drug therapy. In that spirit we hope you will consent to participate in this survey.