A Study on Herbal Drugs Utilization in Health Care Students

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the herbal drugs utilization by health care students at AIMST University, Kedah D.A., Malaysia.Method: Analysis was carried out by using a Software Package for Statistical Analysis, Version 20. A total of 801 health care students were interviewed.Results: A total of 801 healthcare students were interviewed. The result showed that 796 (99.5%) used herbal drugs while 5 (0.5%) were not using herbal drugs. The male respondents were 229 (100.0%) and female 567 (99.1%) were utilized herbal drugs 28.8%, 71.2% respectively. The ethnicity showed 541(99.3%) and used herbal drugs 68.0% more as compare to other races. The highest utilization of herbal drugs was 75.4% within the age groups of 21-25 years. The faculty of pharmacy respondents 321 (99.4%) utilized herbal drugs 40.3% more as compare to other faculties. The third-year respondents 277 (99.3%) showed more utilization of herbal drugs 34.8%. Mostly students respondent were living in-campus 588 (99.3%) utilized herbal drugs 73.9%. Mostly respondents used herbal drugs in cough and common cold than headache, diarrhoea, common flue, fever/ chill and muscular pain. Most of respondents agreed upon mild illness 436 (54.4%), economics cost 390 (48.7%), and familiar with treatment option 348 (43.4%).Conclusion: The herbal drugs are popular self-treatment remedies among health care students.

Keywords: Herbal drugs; Health care students; Ethnicity; Common cold and cough; SPSS 20