Community Pharmacists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Herbal Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55940/medphar2024108Keywords:
Thymus Plant, Herbal Medicine, Pharmacists, Cross-Sectional Studies, SyzygiumAbstract
Background: Herbal medicines are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, including in the Arab world and Libya. This trend makes it imperative that pharmacists be knowledgeable enough to appropriately counsel patients about herbal products. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding herbal medicine in Libya.
Methods: : A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to licensed community pharmacists via email, social media, and in person at local pharmacies from December 2022 to June 2023. Data were analyzed using R software version 4.2.1, with results presented in terms of frequencies and percentages, applying chi-square and regression analyses as appropriate.
Results: The results showed that community pharmacists have adequate knowledge about herbal products without significant differences between genders. However, gaps in awareness of specific side effects and contraindications were identified. The most frequently dispensed herbal products included Hedera helix, chamomile, thyme, senna, fenugreek, ginger, and clove. In addition, 88.5% of the pharmacists agreed that herbal products have beneficial effects, while 66.8% "sometimes" or "always" dispensed them, and 81% used them for self-treatment.
Conclusion: Overall, pharmacists showed good knowledge, positive attitudes, and effective practices concerning herbal products. However, to ensure public safety and health, further reform in education and the establishment of policies with clear guidelines to facilitate effective counselling and safer dispensing are imperative
References
Alshabi AM, Shaikh MA, Shaikh IA, Alkahtani SA, Aljadaan A. Knowledge, attitude and practice of hospital pharmacists towards pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal. 2022 ;30(7):1018-26. DOI:10.1016/j.jsps.2022.04.014
Salah N, Almokdmi N. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice About Vitamin Supplements Counseling in Libyan Community Pharmacies. Attahadi Medical Journal. 2024 Aug 27:43-9. DOI:10.69667/amj.24207
Jaber D, Hasan HE, Abutaima R, Sawan HM, Al Tabbah S. The impact of artificial intelligence on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacists across diverse settings: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 2024; 192:105656. DOI:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105656
Paudyal V, Sun S, Hussain R, Abutaleb MH, Hedima EW. Complementary and alternative medicines use in COVID-19: A global perspective on practice, policy and research. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. 2022;18(3):2524-8. DOI:10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.05.004
Liu L, Tang Y, Baxter GD, Yin H, Tumilty S. Complementary and alternative medicine-practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review. BMC complementary medicine and therapies. 2021 ;63(21):1-1. DOI:10.1186/s12906-021-03235-z
Balogun OD, Ayo-Farai O, Ogundairo O, Maduka CP, Okongwu CC, Babarinde AO, Sodamade OT. The role of pharmacists in personalised medicine: a review of integrating pharmacogenomics into clinical practice. International Medical Science Research Journal. 2024;4(1):19-36. DOI:10.51594/imsrj.v4i1.697
Ng JY, Tahir U, Dhaliwal S. Barriers, knowledge, and training related to pharmacists’ counselling on dietary and herbal supplements: a systematic review of qualitative studies. BMC health services research. 2021; 21(1):499. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06502-4
Yoo HJ, Yoon HY, Yee J, Gwak HS. Effects of ephedrine-containing products on weight loss and lipid profiles: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pharmaceuticals. 2021; 14(11):1198. DOI: 10.3390/ph14111198
Dores AR, Peixoto M, Castro M, Sa C, Carvalho IP, Martins A, Maia E, Praca I, Marques A. Knowledge and beliefs about herb/supplement consumption and herb/supplement–drug interactions among the general population, including healthcare professionals and pharmacists: A systematic review and guidelines for a smart decision system. Nutrients. 2023; 15(10):2298. DOI: 10.3390/nu15102298
Cho H, Oh J, Chu H, Jin H, Leem J. Efficacy and safety of ephedra-containing oral medications: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and exploratory dose–response analysis for weight reduction. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2024; 15:1397247. DOI:10.3389/fphar.2024.1397247
Richardson E, Akkas F, Cadwallader AB. What Should Dietary Supplement Oversight Look Like in the US? AMA J Ethics. 2022; 24(5):E402–9.
Babos MB, Heinan M, Redmond L, Moiz F, Souza-Peres JV, Samuels V, Masimukku T, Hamilton D, Khalid M, Herscu P. Herb–drug interactions: Worlds intersect with the patient at the center. Medicines. 2021; 8(8):44. DOI: 10.3390/medicines8080044
El-Mokasabi F. The state of the art of traditional herbal medicine in the eastern mediterranean coastal region of Libya. Middle East J Sci Res. 2014; 21(4):575-82. DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2014.21.04.21520
Shaboun S, Salama L, Salama R, Abdrabba F, Shabon F. Knowledge, Attitude, and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Final-Year Pharmacy and Medical Students in Benghazi, Libya. Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. 2023 ;15(01):020–8. DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750084.
Elmuzghi RF. Assessing the Influential Factors Associated with Medication Non-adherence and Self-care Practices Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Tripoli, Libya. Sciences of Pharmacy. 2023;2(2):104-16. DOI:10.58920/sciphar02020077
Makkaoui N, Halaoui A, Atoui Z, Siblini H, Habib S, Awada H, Zgheib NK. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding drug interactions among community pharmacists. Journal of Public Health. 2021 ;29:1357-63. DOI: 10.1007/s10389-020-01252-9
Clayton K, Luxford Y, Stupans I. Attitudes and knowledge of community pharmacists toward complementary and alternative medicine: a narrative review. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2023;29(3):274-81.
Brunelli L, Arnoldo L, Mazzilis G, d'Angelo M, Colautti L, Cojutti PG, Parpinel M. The knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists related to the use of dietary supplements: An observational study in northeastern Italy. Preventive medicine reports. 2022 ;30:101986. DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101986
Chang ZG, Kennedy DT, Holdford DA, Small RE. Pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward herbal medicine. Ann Pharmacother. 2000 Jun;34(6):710-5. DOI: 101345/aph19263
Cahlíková L, Šafratová M, Hošťálková A, Chlebek J, Hulcová D, Breiterová K, Opletal L. Pharmacognosy and its role in the system of profile disciplines in pharmacy. Natural Product Communications. 2020 ;15(9):1934578X20945450. DOI:10.1177/1934578X20945450
Asmelashe Gelayee D, Binega Mekonnen G, Asrade Atnafe S, Birarra MK, Asrie AB. Herbal medicines: personal use, knowledge, attitude, dispensing practice, and the barriers among community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017;2017(1):6480142. DOI:10.1155/2017/6480142
Fahmy SA, Abdu S, Abuelkhair M. Pharmacists’ attitude, perceptions and knowledge towards the use of herbal products in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Pharmacy practice. 2010 ;8(2):109. DOI:10.4321/s1886-36552010000200005
Zaidi SF, Saeed SA, Khan MA, Khan A, Hazazi Y, Otayn M, Rabah M, Daniyal M. Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 2022 ;22(1):326. DOI:10.1186/s12906-022-03783-y
Alsayari A, Almghaslah D, Khaled A, Annadurai S, Alkhairy MA, Alqahtani HA, et al. Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Herbal Medicines in Asir Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018;2018:1–7. DOI: 10.1155/2018/1568139.
Bouqoufi A, Lahlou L, Ait El Hadj F, Abdessadek M, Obtel M, Khabbal Y. Prevalence, motivation, and associated factors of medicinal herbs consumption in pregnant women from Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office: a systematic review. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2023;61(1):1065-81. DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2023.2229388
CO LU, Kbar N, Aslani P, Smith L, Gelissen IC, Harnett JE. Pharmacy education in traditional and complementary medicines-A systematic review. Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy. 2023:S1551-7411. DOI:10.1016/j.sapharm.2023.07.007
Allehdan S, Hasan M, Perna S, Al-Mannai M, Alalwan T, Mohammed D, Almosawi M, Hoteit M, Tayyem R. Prevalence, knowledge, awareness, and attitudes towards dietary supplements among Bahraini adults: a cross-sectional study. Food Production, Processing and Nutrition. 2023;5(1):54. DOI:10.1186/s43014-023-00168-7
Allen LN, Hatefi A, Kak M, Herbst CH, Mallender J, Karem G. A rapid mixed-methods assessment of Libya’s primary care system. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Dec 1;24(1). DOI:10.1186/s12913-024-11121-w
Jovanović A, Stefanović-Vojinović J, Petrović S, Drobac M, Tadić I, Catić-Đorđević A, Kukić-Marković J. Awareness of elderly patients on herbal products in Serbia. Pharmacy Education. 2023; 23(5):29-. DOI: 10.46542/pe.2023.235.138
Al-Arifi MN. Availability and needs of herbal medicinal information resources at community pharmacy, Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal. 2013 ;21(4):351–60. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2012.11.004
Almaghaslah D, Alsayari A, Lakshmi R, Kandasamy G, Batool S, Vigneshwaran E, Alshehri AA, Algamdi BA, Alhattan MN, Alali SM. Attitudes and Awareness of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults in the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research. 2022 ;20(1):7-15.
Louhaichi M, Salkini AK, Estita HE, Belkhir S. Initial assessment of medicinal plants across the Libyan Mediterranean coast. Advances in Environmental Biology. 2011 ;5(2):359-70. URI: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/5003
Shaboun S, Salama L, Salama R, Abdrabba F, Shabon F. Knowledge, Attitude, and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Final-Year Pharmacy and Medical Students in Benghazi, Libya. Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. 2023; 15(01):020–8.
Alkharfy KM. Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes and practices towards herbal remedies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. EMHJ-Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2010; 16 (9): 988-993. Available from: https://www.emro.who.int/emhj-volume-16-2010/volume-16-issue-9/article-13.html
Bazrafshani MS, Khandani BK, Pardakhty A, Tajadini H, Afshar RM, Moazed V, Nemati A, Nasiri N, Sharifi H. The prevalence and predictors of using herbal medicines among Iranian cancer patients. Complementary therapies in clinical practice. 2019; 35:368-73. DOI:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.03.00
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Hajer Arjaibi, Rehab A Sherlala, Maram H. Mansour, Sokina A. Osman
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
