Community Pharmacists' Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards the Use of Herbal Remedies

Abstract

Background: The use of herbal medicines and natural health products by the public is continuously being increased by the day. Community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers, this necessitates that pharmacists should be aware of the appropriate use of herbal medicines. Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists in the Al-Kharj region. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst pharmacists who work in different community pharmacies in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was prepared using surveys of previous studies and was hand-delivered to the pharmacists concerning the use of herbal medicines. Results: All of the respondents were male and more than 50% of them were in the age range between 30-39. Most of the pharmacists reported that they have sufficient information about dietary supplements and that they are interested in updating their knowledge  about herbal drugs. Furthermore, more than 70% of the participants said that they take both medical and medication history from the buyers before supplying herbal medicines. Conclusion: The study shows that pharmacists have good knowledge and a positive attitude toward using herbal medicines by the public in Al-Kharj city.