Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Cross-sectional Study on Attitudes of Prospective Healthcare Professionals towards Herbal Medicines

Abstract

Background: Herbal medicine remains integral to healthcare in many countries, yet its formal integration into conventional practice is still a challenge. This cross‑sectional study assessed attitudes toward herbal medicines among final‑year medical and pharmacy students in Nigeria across four domains: safety and efficacy, scientific validation, professional and educational relevance, and integration with conventional care. Methods: A total of 375 final‑year students from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones completed a nine‑item Likert‑scale questionnaire. Data on personal use of herbal products, curriculum exposure, and institutional clinic availability were also collected. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted. Results: A strong majority (88%) disagreed that herbal medicines lack efficacy, less than a quarter (24%) viewed them as inherently safe, but more than a third (36%) agreed that they require scientific testing before use, whilst more than three-quarters (83%) indicated that knowledge of herbal medicine is important for healthcare professionals. Close to three-quarters (70%) agreed that clinical care should integrate conventional medicine with herbal medicines, with pharmacy students (p < 0.001) and those exposed to the curricula (p < 0.001) showing more support for this view. Also, compared to the pharmacy students (51%), a higher proportion of the medical students (78%) agreed that herbal medications should not be employed for therapeutic purposes unless supported by scientific evidence (p < 0.001). Conclusion: While future Nigerian healthcare professionals recognize the therapeutic promise of herbal medicines and favour their educational inclusion and clinical integration, substantial caution persists regarding safety and the need for rigorous validation. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive, evidence‑based CAM curricula and clear regulatory frameworks to ensure safe, informed integration of herbal therapies into mainstream healthcare.