Attitude and Practice of Pharmacy Students Toward Traditional Herbal Medicines, Sudan

Figures & data

Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents (N:264)

Characteristics		Frequency	Percent
Gender	Female	224	84.8
	Male	40	15.2
Year of Study	Second year	63	23.9
	Third year	80	30.3
	Fourth-year	73	27.7
	Fifth year	48	18.2
Income/month (SDG)	Less than 100.000	36	13.6
	Between 100.000–400.000	160	60.6
	More than 400.000	86	25.8
Residence	Urban	225	85.2
	Rural	39	14.8

Table 2 The Attitude of Respondents Toward Traditional Herbal Medicines

Statement	Response
	Strongly Agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
THMs (traditional herbal medicines) are useful as CM (conventional medicines)	50 (18.9%)	157 (59.5%)	29 (11%)	27 (10.2%)	1 (0.4%)
THMs can cure some diseases that cannot be treated by CM	26 (9.8%)	103 (39%)	56 (21.2%)	67 (25.4%)	12 (4.5%)
THMs have fewer side effects than CM	64 (24.2%)	100 (37.9%)	35 (13.3%)	51 (19.3%)	14 (5.3%)
There is no severe interaction between THMs and CM	11 (4.2%)	54 (20.5%)	68 (25.8%)	92 (34.8%)	39 (14.8%)
THMs should be given with CM to improve healthcare coverage	33 (12.5%)	107 (40.5%)	64 (24.2%)	46 (17.4%)	14 (5.3%)
THMs should be officially licensed and controlled	96 (36.4%)	133 (50.4%)	22 (8.3%)	10 (3.8%)	3 (1.1%)
Some knowledge about THMs is important for my future practice as a pharmacist	147 (55.7%)	103 (39%)	11 (4.2%)	3 (1.1%)	0
I am interested to know more about THMs	116 (43.9%)	114 (43.9%)	19 (7.2%)	13 (4.9%)	2 (0.8%)
THMs courses should be included as part of my academic curriculum	102 (38.6%)	127 (48.1%)	23 (8.7%)	7 (2.7%)	5 (1.9%)

Table 3 The Practice of Respondents Toward Traditional Herbal Medicines

Practice		Frequency	Percent
Have you ever used THMs products?	Always	47	17.8
	Sometimes	167	63.3
	Rarely	42	15.9
	Never	8	3.0
From where do you most obtain THMs?	Family/friend	96	36.4
	Pharmacy	5	1.9
	Supermarket	93	35.2
	Traditional practitioner / herbal shop	71	26.9
In which form do you most use THMs?	Oral	230	87.1
	Topical	31	11.7
	Inhaler	3	1.1
Do you encourage others to use THMs products?	Always	38	14.4
	Sometimes	152	57.6
	Rarely	66	24.6
	Never	8	3.4
Why do you most likely encourage others to use THMs products?	Availability	123	46.6
	Low cost	43	16.3
	More effective	33	13.3
	Influence	27	12.5
	Health facilities too far	7	2.7
	Others	23	5.1
For whom do you most likely recommend THMs?	Pediatric	36	13.6
	Adult	105	39.8
	Elderly	39	14.8
	Specific women	35	13.3
	Chronic disease	17	6.4
	Acute disease	21	8.0
	Others	8	3

Table 4 Medicinal Plants Used Traditionally by Respondents

Medicinal Plant/Herb	Traditional Use Frequency (Percent)
	Respiratory System	Gastro-Intestinal	Skin Disorders	Anti-Infection	Weight Control	Pain Relive	I Do not Use
Syzygium aromaticum	39 (15%)	33 (13%)	7 (3%)	15 (6%)	0	127 (48%)	66 (25%)
Guiera senegalensis	8 (3%)	23 (9%)	2 (1%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (1%)	4 (2%)	228 (86%)
Sonchus oleraceus	10 (4%)	28 (11%)	1 (0.4%)	10 (4%)	2 (1%)	1 (0.4%)	214 (81%)
Cinnamon sp.	28 (11%)	75 (28%)	17 (6%)	15 (6%)	38 (14%)	79 (30%)	58 (35%)
Ambrosia maritima L	7 (3%)	19 (8%)	2 (1%)	2 (1%)	2 (1%)	0	234 (89%)
Mentha spicata L.	58 (22%)	186 (71%)	6 (3%)	14 (5%)	11 (4%)	35 (13%)	24 (9%)
Acacia nilotica	161 (61%)	18 (7%)	12 (5%)	52 (20%)	0	14 (5%)	53 (20%)
Moringa oleifera	12 (5%)	23 (9%)	6 (2%)	3 (1%)	8 (3%)	1 (0.4%)	215 (81%)
Cymbopogon schoenanthus	7 (3%)	70 (26%)	7 (3%)	15 (6%)	4 (2%)	17 (6%)	154 (58%)
Hibiscus sabdariffa	131 (50%)	42 (16%)	10 (4%)	31 (12%)	6 (2%)	11 (4%)	59 (22%)
Sesamum indicum	104 (39%)	17 (6.4%)	72 (27%)	14 (5%)	0	28 (11%)	76 (29%)
Tamarindus indica	12 (4.5%)	100 (38%)	15 (6%)	23 (9%)	6 (2%)	7 (2.7%)	119 (45%)
Zingiber officinale	135 (51%)	73 (28%)	7 (3%)	23 (9%)	26 (10%)	21 (8%)	31 (11%)
Punica granatum	12 (4.5%)	102 (39%)	22 (8%)	11 (4%)	4 (2%)	5 (2%)	125 (47%)
Nigella sativa	63 (24%)	71 (27%)	15 (6%)	16 (6%)	3 (1%)	12 (5%)	122 (46%)

Table 5 Association Between Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents and Attitude Levels Toward Traditional Herbal Medicines

Characteristic		Attitude Level				P- value
		Low	Moderate	High	Total
Gender	Female	0	178 (79.5%)	46 (20.5%)	224	0.046
	Male	1 (2.5%)	33 (82.5%)	6 (15%)	40
Year of study	Second	1 (1.6%)	55 (87.3%)	7 (11.1%)	63	0.000
	Third	0	69 (86.3%)	11 (13.8%)	80
	Fourth	0	67 (91.8%)	6 (8.2%)	73
	Fifth	0	20 (41.7%)	28 (58.3%)	48
Income	Less than 100.000	0	34 (94.4%)	2 (5.6%)	36	0.064
	100,000–400.000	0	127 (79.4%)	33 (20.6%)	160
	More than 400.000	1 (0.4%)	50 (73.5%)	17 (25%)	68
Residence	Rural	1 (2.6%)	27 (69.2%)	11 (28.2%)	39	0.017
	Urban	0	184 (81.8%)	41 (18.2%)	225