Assessment of knowledge and attitude of patients on herbal medicine use in Udupi region, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the knowledge and attitude of patients on the usage of herbal medicines in Udupi Region of Karnataka State, India. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out over a period of six months, and involving a structured and validated questionnaire. It was conducted among patients who visited hospitals in and around the Udupi region of Karnataka, India. Results: About 37 % of the respondents of the study used a combination of allopathy and herbal medicines. The results further showed that 29.8 % of respondents used allopathy, while 24.5 % were on herbal medicines. Of the total herbal medicine users, 34.07 % of the respondents stated that the reason for using herbal medicines was their perception that herbal medicines had more efficacy and comparatively lower side effects. A majority of the respondents, i.e., 64.6 %, lacked knowledge on dose, duration of therapy, side effects and interactions of the drugs. Out of 226 respondents who used herbal medicine, only 65 (28.76 %) could identify adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Among these 65 patients who could identify ADRs, only 16 (24.62 %) informed the physician about it, while the remaining 49 (75.38 %) patients did not inform the physician about it. Conclusion: The results indicate a need to conduct educational and awareness programs by AYUSH, The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy on herbal medicines and adverse drug reactions in order to minimize untoward effects caused by herbal medicines.

Pharmacovigilance in Homoeopathy—Need of the Hour: A Narrative Review

“… Inadequacy in the knowledge of the common public to accept risks from wrong practices and misconceptions of use of homoeopathic medicines. 41…”

“…Inadequacy in the knowledge of the common public to accept risks from wrong practices and misconceptions of use of homoeopathic medicines. 41 Lack of knowledge, attitude and practices of PV among homoeopathic professionals. [42][43][44] Misleading and Objectionable advertisement: Publicising improper drug information in the form of advertisements is another matter of concern that needs to be addressed to safeguard the interest of homoeopathic drug consumers.…”

Attitudes and Practices of Pharmacists Regarding the Use of Herbal Products

“…Herbal products are intended to be used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes through patients. In various studies, it is stated that about half of the participants use at least one herbal product (Mosihuzzaman, 2012;Kıssal et al, 2017;Bhat et al, 2019;Chopra and Dhingra, 2021). It has been well observed that patients have had a strong belief in the healing power of natural herbs since ancient times (WHO, 2020).…”

Hastalarin Bi̇tki̇sel Ürün Kullanimina İli̇şki̇n Tutum Ve Uygulamalarinin Değerlendi̇ri̇lmesi̇

“…[11]. Bhat et al (2019) reported that patients mostly prefer herbal products over conventional medicines since they think that these products are more efficacious and have minimal side effects. In the same study, patients' major sources of information regarding herbal medicines were friends and advertisements [12].…”

“…Bhat et al (2019) reported that patients mostly prefer herbal products over conventional medicines since they think that these products are more efficacious and have minimal side effects. In the same study, patients' major sources of information regarding herbal medicines were friends and advertisements [12]. A study from Turkey showed that participant's knowledge on herbal products depends on advertisements through media and herbal products are usually purchased from herb sellers [13].…”