Background The concurrent usage of herbal medicines with conventional therapies is an important concern in cancer treatment which can lead to unexpected consequences like herb-drug interactions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of potential herb-drug interactions and to predict factors associated with herb-drug interactions for cancer patients. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 315 cancer patients referring to the oncology clinics of Kerman city in 2018. Data were collected via comprehensive face-to-face interviews and medical chart reviews. A drug interaction checker was used to determine herb-drug interactions. The information of patients was compared based on herb-drug interactions using bivariable logistic regression models, and predictors were determined by the multivariable logistic regression model. All analyses were performed by Stata software version 16. Results Of 262 patients (83.2% of the patients) who used herbal medicines, 209 patients [79.8% (95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 75.2 – 85.1)] had potential herb-drug interactions. Chamomile was the most popular herbal medicine (n = 163, 78.0%), and minor and moderate herb-drug interactions were caused by green tea (n = 34, 16.3%) and peppermint (n = 78, 37.5%). The number of chemotherapeutic agents (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.43–2.58; P-value < 0.0001) and the experienced of pain during chemotherapy courses (OR = 2.22, 95%CI:1.00–4.94; P-value = 0.04) were some of the predictors of herb-drug interactions among cancer patients. Conclusion Herbal medicine use during chemotherapy was found prevalent among cancer patients; of them, the experience of potential herb-drug interactions was highly frequent. Oncologists and clinical pharmacologists are recommended to take into account challenges associated with herb-drug interactions in their routine practices, particularly during chemotherapy among these patients.

Purpose The risk of aggression is higher among people with psychiatric disorders. This study aims to determine the association of aggression with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in patients referred to Shahid Beheshti Teaching Hospital in Kerman. Design/methodology/approach This was a cross-sectional study of 518 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, BD and MDD who met the inclusion criteria and were compared with a comparison group. All participants completed the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). Independent samples t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to investigate the relationship between the score of BPAQ and other variables. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) were completed by MDD, BD and schizophrenia patients, respectively. Findings The mean score of total aggression and its components in the comparison group was significantly (P-value = 0.001) lower than that of the other groups. However, no significant difference was observed between the three schizophrenia, MDD and BD groups. The total aggression score of BPAQ had a significant positive correlation with BDI-13 and YMRS and a significant negative correlation with the PANSS score. Single patients with schizophrenia and people in the comparison group with lower education levels had a higher total aggression score. Originality/value Suffering from BD, MDD and schizophrenia, especially in single patients with a lower education level, is associated with physical and verbal aggression, anger and hostility, which emphasizes the need for periodic examination and screening of aggressive behaviors in these patients.

Background: The concurrent usage of herbal medicines with conventional therapies is an important concern in cancer treatment which can lead to unexpected consequences like herb-drug interactions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of potential herb-drug interactions and to predict factors associated with herb-drug interactions for cancer patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 315 cancer patients referring to the oncology clinics of Kerman in 2018. Data were collected via comprehensive face-to-face interviews and medical chart reviews. A drug interaction checker was used to determine herb-drug interactions. The information of patients was compared based on herb-drug interactions by using bivariable logistic regression models and predictors were determined by the multivariable logistic regression model. All analyses were performed by Stata software version 16. Results: Of 262 patients who used herbal medicines, 209 patients [79.8% (95% CI: 75.2 – 85.1)] had potential herb-drug interactions. Chamomile was the most popular herbal medicine (n=163, 78%), and minor and moderate herb-drug interactions were caused by green tea (n=34, 16.3%) and peppermint (n=78, 37.5%). The number of chemotherapeutic agents (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.43–2.58; P-value<0.0001) and the experience of pain during chemotherapy courses (OR=2.22, 95%CI:1.00–4.94; P-value=0.04) were some of the predictors of herb-drug interactions among cancer patients. Conclusion: The majority of cancer patients used herbal medicines during chemotherapy courses and physicians could reduce the odds of herb-drug interactions with proper education, monitor the side effects of chemotherapy, and prevent patients from self-medication with herbal medicines.