Health Care Practitioners Study

Project Director: Nora Ganim Barnes, Ph.D.

Health care practitioners have a very high level of awareness regarding the health benefits of cranberries and their role in preventing UTI’s. They are also interested in learning more about the possible benefits for anti-aging, anti-cancer and heart health.

For all professionals surveyed, the most trusted sources of information are medical journals, professional conferences, and university studies. Many would like to see cranberry products with less sugar and would like to receive more cranberry health-related information.

It is recommended that health care practitioners be targeted through their preferred channels. Articles on health benefits of cranberries should appear in medical journals. Presentations need to be formally made at professional meetings. University research needs to be promoted, publicized and results widely disseminated. A central website dedicated to scientific research on this subject should be created and publicized.

Each on-going study could be listed and linked for more information. Many healthcare venues are amenable to distributing literature on the health benefits of cranberries. Calendars, recipes, handouts etc. could be made available to consumers through their health care providers.

The issue of antioxidants needs to be clearly and effectively addressed. Blueberries are overwhelmingly considered to be highest in antioxidants. Any scientific information on this should be wildly publicized and distributed.

There appears to be a positive impression of the health benefits of cranberries among health care practitioners. This group could be helpful in increasing consumer consumption if they had the products they needed and the scientific validation they seek.

The Cranberry Institute appears to enjoy a higher degree of reliability that others in the industry and could be helpful in influencing health care practitioners. Information coming from the Cranberry Institute may carry more weight. Affiliating university researchers as speakers with the Institute will extend its effect.

Generally speaking, health care practitioners are aware of the benefits of cranberry products in preventing UTI’s. Beyond that, their knowledge and awareness are somewhat limited. These important influencers believe that blueberries are healthier, higher in antioxidants, and contain less sugar that cranberry products available. With a concerted and organized educational and promotional campaign targeting those in the health care field, cranberry products will enjoy widespread acceptance, and increased consumption.

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