RESUMO
Background: Herbal medicines are being widely used and likely to cause side effects and interactions with allopathic drugs
Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude and use of herbal medicines among patients in the Northern Border Area of Saudi Arabia
Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out among 445 patients attending outpatient departments of tertiary care health units in Arar city of Saudi Arabia from 1[st] November 2015 to 31[st] March 2016. Besides demographic data, information regarding knowledge, attitude and use of herbal medicines was obtained using predesigned questionnaire. Response to various questions was analyzed with SPSS program version 16. Data was further analyzed by using chi-square test
Results: A significant percentage of patients were familiar with herbal medicine use [93.7 %]. Male patients has more knowledge of herbal medicines than females [P = 0.024]. High proportion of patients were personally using herbs [93.6 %], mostly in relatively lower income families. Almost 90% Physicians don't ask history of herbal medicines consumption. Only 5% of patients were taking herbal medicine prescribed by Hakeem [Authorized Physician]. Persons [parents and grandparents] were prescribing herbal medicines
Conclusion: The residents of Saudi Arabia [Northern Region, Arar] have shown high usage of herbal medicine, additionally its awareness was high