Effect of an Educational Intervention about Herbal Medicine on the Knowledge of Physicians and Pharmacists
Ede Tyrell *
Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Guyana, Guyana.
Karishma Jeeboo
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Guyana, Guyana.
Jewel Edmonson- Carter
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Guyana, Guyana.
Troy Thomas
Department of Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Guyana, Guyana.
Rajini Kurup
Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Guyana, Guyana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the effect of a video educational intervention, on the knowledge of physicians and pharmacists with respect to their awareness of the difference between local bush medicines (bush) and imported herbal medicines (herb); and, their uses, side effects, contraindications and drug interactions. Also, to determine if there was exposure to and an interest in formal training on Complementary, Alternative and Bush Medicine (CABM).
Study Design: A cross-sectional study of registered pharmacists and physicians in Guyana, attending their annual conferences, was carried out with a self-administered survey questionnaire on medicinal plants.
Methodology: Participants completed the Pre-Questionnaire; then were shown a video and subsequently given a similar Post-Questionnaire. The impact of the video was investigated using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Wilcoxon Sign Rank tests and logistic and multinomial regression models.
Results: A total of 274 (134 pharmacists and 140 doctors) persons participated. The bush which most were aware of, was corilla/bitter melon, both in the pre-questionnaire (60%) and in the post-questionnaire (83%). Cranberry (pre-score 48%, post-score 51%) was the most identified herb. A comparison of the pre and post scores using the paired t-test (t=2.528, df=175, P=0.005) indicated improved awareness. Most persons were able to identify one use of corilla/bitter melon (pre-score 61%, post-score 70%). However, for the other bush/herbs, and for the side effects, contraindications and drug interactions, knowledge was lacking although there were significant improvements after the intervention. 44% indicated that CABM was part of their formal training and pharmacists were more likely to have had formal training. 88% were interested in further training.
Conclusion: The study found a paucity of knowledge about medicinal plants and therefore strongly recommends implementing formal education on CABM in university curricula and in future Continuing Education (CE) sessions. The video intervention had a significant impact and should be used as a template.
Keywords: Knowledge, video, educational intervention, herbal medicine, pharmacists, physicians.