Abstract
Background A dramatic increase in the use of natural products and herbal medicines has been observed globally. Simultaneously, there has been an increase in safety concerns regarding the extensive use of these herbal remedies among health care practitioners. The urban and rural populations of Saudi Arabia still rely on traditional Arabic herbal medicines for the treatment of various diseases. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices of herbal medicines in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia. Methods An online cross-sectional study was conducted among 233 community pharmacists using a structured questionnaire. Results Pharmacists showed considerable knowledge of the indications of herbal products, with an average score of 84% correct answers, total P value < 0.05 and < 0.001. They were also knowledgeable about contraindications, side effects, and interactions, with an average score of 75% correct answers, total P value < 0.05 and < 0.001. Community pharmacists had a positive attitude towards herbal products, as 71% of them “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that herbal products were efficacious and 77% of them “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that those products should be sold only in a pharmacy. Herbal products were “often” or "always” dispensed by 67.3% of pharmacists in a pharmacy. Conclusion Pharmacists generally exhibited good knowledge, a positive attitude, and effective practice towards herbal products. However, continuing education programs are needed to train pharmacists in providing client counseling on herbal medicine usage and dispensing them.
Highlights
A dramatic increase has been noted in the global consumption of natural products and herbal medicines in the past three decades [1]
The current study was conducted with community pharmacists practicing in the Asir region, which is in the southern province of Saudi Arabia
Additional products sold included Chamomile (9%), Ginger (8.6%), and St John’s Wort (4.7%), with the least common herbal products sold being Maca-root (1.3%) and Arnica tincture (1.3%)
Summary
A dramatic increase has been noted in the global consumption of natural products and herbal medicines in the past three decades [1]. While the population lives in both urban and rural areas, they still use traditional Arab medicines for health care and treatment of diseases [4]. This is understandable, since Saudi Arabia has one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the Gulf, which consists of an admixture of elements from Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean regions. The urban and rural populations of Saudi Arabia still rely on traditional Arabic herbal medicines for the treatment of various diseases. This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices of herbal medicines in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia. Continuing education programs are needed to train pharmacists in providing client counseling on herbal medicine usage and dispensing them
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