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Table 4 Pharmacy professionals’ attitude towards herbal medicine, Asmara, Eritrea, 2021 (N = 50)

From: Herbal Medicine (HM) among pharmacy professionals working in drug retail outlets in Asmara, Eritrea: knowledge, attitude and prevalence of use

Statement

Agree/Strongly agree (%)

Neutral (%)

Disagree/Strongly disagree (%)

Herbal medicines have beneficial effects.

48 (96)

1 (2)

1 (2)

Herbal medicines are readily contaminated and cannot be used safely.

29 (58)

3 (6)

18 (39)

Herbal medicines are relatively safer, because they are natural.

13 (26)

5 (10)

32 (64)

Herbal medicines have fewer side effects than conventional medicines.

14 (28)

7 (14)

29 (58)

Herbal medicines have high qualities (in terms of active ingredients).

35 (70)

6 (12)

9 (18)

Herbal medicines are as efficacious as conventional medicines.

21 (42)

9 (18)

20 (40)

Herbal medicines have placebo effects.

32 (64)

11 (22)

7 (14)

Herbal medicines have relatively fewer interactions in comparison with conventional medicines.

18 (36)

11 (22)

21 (42)

Herbal medicines have relatively fewer contra-indications in comparison with conventional medicines.

16 (32)

14 (28)

20 (40)

Herbal medicines have significant interactions with conventional medicine.

31 (62)

7 (14)

12 (24)

Pharmacy professionals are in unique position to provide evidence-based information regarding herbal medicines to help patients and customers make safe decisions about their use.

42 (84)

3 (9)

5 (10)

Pharmacy professionals are the right persons to advise and educate people on herbal products use.

38 (76)

4 (8)

8 (16)

Herbal medications (finished herbal products) should be sold only in a pharmacy.

36 (72)

5 (10)

9 (18)

Carrying herbal medications may have a negative influence on a pharmacy’s image.

18 (36)

5 (10)

27 (54)

Herbals should be sold in pharmacies under a pharmacy professionals’ supervision.

37 (74)

6 (12)

7 (14)

Only registered pre-packaged herbal medicines should be available in community pharmacies.

42 (84)

2 (4)

6 (12)

Herbal medications are a threat to public health.

18 (36)

2 (4)

30 (60)

Herbal medicines have a high acceptance by the public.

41 (82)

3 (6)

6 (12)

Herbals have a positive impact on public health.

35 (70)

6 (12)

9 (18)

Herbal medicines should be incorporated along with the conventional medicine in the health care-service, in order to avoid self-medications by the public.

37 (74)

6 (12)

7 (14)

Educational courses on herbal medicines centered on patient care (counseling and dispensing) have to be provided to pharmacy professionals.

48 (96)

0

2 (4)

Indigenous knowledge from herbalists should be integrated for guidelines of use.

47 (94)

1 (2)

2 (4)

Pharmacy professionals need to be educated on herbal medicine use and their side effects.

49 (98)

0

1 (2)

The use of herbal medicines is an economic alternative to conventional medicines.

28 (56)

8 (16)

14 (28)

Workshops and trainings should be provided in order to establish inter-professional relationships between herbalists and pharmacy professionals.

49 (98)

 

1 (2)