A Study on Herbal Drugs Utilization in Health Care Professionals (Physicians/Academicians)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the herbal drugs utilization by healthcare professional (physician/academician) at AIMST University, Kedah D.A., and Malaysia.Method: Analysis was carried out by using a Software Package for Statistical Analysis, Version 20. A total of 168 healthcare professional (physician/academician) were interviewed.Results: The result showed that 150 (89.2%) used herbal drugs while 18 (10.8%) were not. The ethnicity showed that 99 (86.1%) Indians used herbal drugs 66.0%. The utilization of herbal drugs was 52.0% within the age groups of 31-40 years. Respondents 68 (90.7) from Faculty of Medicine utilized herbal drugs 45.3% more as compared to other faculties. The less experienced respondents 45 (84.9%) utilized 30% and was least in highly experienced. Most of the respondents were having Master‘s qualification 102 (85.7%), Ph.D. 25 (100.0%) and the utilization was 68.9% and 18.0% respectively. The respondents engaged in academics were 143 (87.7%) and utilization was 96.6%. The respondents agreed for mild illness 96 (57.1%), economic cost 70 (41.7%) and familiar with treatment option was 63 (37.5%).Conclusion: Highest utilization was in mild illness, diabetes and gastric problems. Common herbal as a drug used by the respondents was bitter gourd (Momordica charantia).

Keywords: Herbal drugs; health care professionals; ethnicity; common cold; cough