Factors Affecting the Uptake of Combination Therapy for the Treatment of COVID-19

Abstract

Aims: To analyze factors affecting the use of a combination of herbs and medication or supplements for COVID-19 treatment among self-isolation patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted to 268 COVID-19 patients with home self-isolation in Indonesia. Data were collected by using a google form questionnaire, consisting of closed-formatted and open-ended questions, from October 9th to December 9th, 2021. A multivariate analysis was performed using a logistic regression test. Results: The proportion of COVID-19 patients who used a combination of herbs and medication or supplements was 78.4%. Vitamin C, vitamin D, and paracetamol were the medication and supplements most frequently taken by patients. The most commonly consumed herbs were honey (70.7%), ginger (50.18%), and turmeric (26.74%). The multivariate analysis results showed that the duration of infection, sunbathing activities, and marital status were factors significantly associated with the use of a combination of herbs and medication or supplements (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study highlighted that most COVID-19 patients used herbs in combination with medication or supplements for their treatment. Therefore, there is a necessity for education, especially for patients and health professionals about the potential herb-drug interactions.