Primary care physicians and community pharmacists approach to the use of herbal products: a pilot study in Trabzon

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the approaches of primary care physicians and community pharmacists on the use of herbal products, including the level of their knowledge and resources they use to get information about these products. This project is the first comprehensive survey in our region on health professionals that investigated their level of knowledge and their approach about the usage of herbal products.

Methods: The study consisted of the community pharmacists and primary care physicians in Trabzon who consented to participate in the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of 31 questions and was analyzed using an electronic statistical programme.

Results: A total of 242 health personnel, including 129 community pharmacists and 113 physicians, were reached in the study. 50.4% of the physicians and 94.6% of the pharmacists stated that they had previous information about the herbal products/medicines. While 46.8% of respondents indicated that they participate in educational activities on herbal products/medicines only when it is convenient and available, pharmacists were found to be benefiting from continued education programs, post-graduate training programs and books on herbal products in a higher proportion than physicians. 61.9% of physicians and 32.6% of pharmacists participating in the study indicated that they did not use herbal products. 80.6% of the respondents stated that the patients consult them to get information about the herbal product(s) while 68% of the pharmacists and 42.5% of the physicians stated that they recommend herbal products to their patients. 70.2% of the respondents feel that they are not able to provide adequate service on the use of herbal product.

Conclusion: The rational use of herbal products among people requires comprehensive counseling services by the health professionals thus it is important for physicians and pharmacists to question the herbal products used by the patients. In order for health professionals to perform an adequate counseling on the use of herbal products, they need an up-to-date knowledge on these products and be able to evaluate their efficacy and safety. To improve the counseling services provided by health professionals, it is necessary to increase training on herbal products and health professionals should be encouraged to participate in these trainings.