Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia
Abstract Background Herbal medicines, derived from medicinal plants, are among the most popular alternative remedies around the globe. In Saudi Arabia, herbal medicines are extensively used by public as part of the culture as well as religious norms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate knowledge...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-022-03783-y |
| _version_ | 1828169916352561152 |
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| author | Syed Faisal Zaidi Sheikh Abdul Saeed Muhammad Anwar Khan Aslam Khan Yaqoub Hazazi Mohammed Otayn Mohammed Rabah Muhammad Daniyal |
| author_facet | Syed Faisal Zaidi Sheikh Abdul Saeed Muhammad Anwar Khan Aslam Khan Yaqoub Hazazi Mohammed Otayn Mohammed Rabah Muhammad Daniyal |
| author_sort | Syed Faisal Zaidi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Herbal medicines, derived from medicinal plants, are among the most popular alternative remedies around the globe. In Saudi Arabia, herbal medicines are extensively used by public as part of the culture as well as religious norms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding herbal medicines among the general population in Saudi Arabia. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey study was conducted on the general population of Jeddah city with the help of a validated and self-administered questionnaire. Sample size was calculated to be 450 with subjects between 20 and 60 years of either gender. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results Results of our data showed that 173 (42.2%) of the total participants used herbal medicines, however, significant association was found between female gender and the usage of herbal medicines (p < 0.001). Approximately, more than half (56.0%) of the respondents agreed that herbal medicines could be used to promote health and treat illnesses, and 45% respondents agreed that herbal medicines are safe. 153 (37.4%) of the participants opined that herbal medicines could be taken with conventional or allopathic medicine. The data also showed a significant (p < 0.05) association between knowledge about the source of herbal medicine and gender where females were found to have more knowledge compared to males. Moreover, a significantly higher number of chronic disease patients were using herbal medicines compared to individuals with no medical problems (p < 0.001). Strikingly, majority (n = 204; 49.9%) of the respondents used herbal medicines as a first choice when sick, while a good number (n = 172; 42.1%) of respondents did not consult doctors before taking herbal medicines. Conclusion The use of herbal medicines is common among the general population of Jeddah. Although most of the participants believed that the herbal medicines are safe and do not require consultation, there is a dire need to increase awareness as well as to establish effective strategies to evaluate the safety, efficacy and quality of the herbal medicines for propitious consequences of this commonly used entity in the local society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:00:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ddb3bb3cc71442d6b7271b1618ed5266 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-7671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:00:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
| spelling | doaj.art-ddb3bb3cc71442d6b7271b1618ed52662022-12-22T03:50:41ZengBMCBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies2662-76712022-12-0122111510.1186/s12906-022-03783-yPublic knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi ArabiaSyed Faisal Zaidi0Sheikh Abdul Saeed1Muhammad Anwar Khan2Aslam Khan3Yaqoub Hazazi4Mohammed Otayn5Mohammed Rabah6Muhammad Daniyal7Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard UniversityDepartment of Physiology, Bahria University Medical & Dental CollegeCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesRiphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International UniversityCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesTCM & Ethnomedicine Innovative & Development International Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Background Herbal medicines, derived from medicinal plants, are among the most popular alternative remedies around the globe. In Saudi Arabia, herbal medicines are extensively used by public as part of the culture as well as religious norms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding herbal medicines among the general population in Saudi Arabia. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey study was conducted on the general population of Jeddah city with the help of a validated and self-administered questionnaire. Sample size was calculated to be 450 with subjects between 20 and 60 years of either gender. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results Results of our data showed that 173 (42.2%) of the total participants used herbal medicines, however, significant association was found between female gender and the usage of herbal medicines (p < 0.001). Approximately, more than half (56.0%) of the respondents agreed that herbal medicines could be used to promote health and treat illnesses, and 45% respondents agreed that herbal medicines are safe. 153 (37.4%) of the participants opined that herbal medicines could be taken with conventional or allopathic medicine. The data also showed a significant (p < 0.05) association between knowledge about the source of herbal medicine and gender where females were found to have more knowledge compared to males. Moreover, a significantly higher number of chronic disease patients were using herbal medicines compared to individuals with no medical problems (p < 0.001). Strikingly, majority (n = 204; 49.9%) of the respondents used herbal medicines as a first choice when sick, while a good number (n = 172; 42.1%) of respondents did not consult doctors before taking herbal medicines. Conclusion The use of herbal medicines is common among the general population of Jeddah. Although most of the participants believed that the herbal medicines are safe and do not require consultation, there is a dire need to increase awareness as well as to establish effective strategies to evaluate the safety, efficacy and quality of the herbal medicines for propitious consequences of this commonly used entity in the local society.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-022-03783-yHerbal medicine knowledgeAttitudePracticeGeneral public awarenessJeddahWestern Saudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Syed Faisal Zaidi Sheikh Abdul Saeed Muhammad Anwar Khan Aslam Khan Yaqoub Hazazi Mohammed Otayn Mohammed Rabah Muhammad Daniyal Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Herbal medicine knowledge Attitude Practice General public awareness Jeddah Western Saudi Arabia |
| title | Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | public knowledge attitudes and practices towards herbal medicines a cross sectional study in western saudi arabia |
| topic | Herbal medicine knowledge Attitude Practice General public awareness Jeddah Western Saudi Arabia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-022-03783-y |
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