Exploring The Prevalence And Patterns Of Herbal Medicine Use Among Patients With Chronic Diseases In Malaysia

Abstract

Worldwide, including in Malaysia, the usage of herbal medicines as additional or substitutes to conventional medicine has grown in popularity. For a variety of reasons, including the belief that they are more natural and safer than conventional medications, patients with chronic diseases frequently turn to herbal remedies. The persistence of this study was to determine the prevalence and usage trends of herbal medicines among Malaysian patients with chronic illnesses as well as to pinpoint the contributing variables. Data from 395 individuals with chronic illnesses who were recruited from six public hospitals in Malaysia was gathered using a cross-sectional design. The data was analyzed using statistical tools such as SPSS, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Inferential statistics, including regression analysis and ANOVA, were used to test hypotheses and examine relationships between variables. The findings of the study revealed that a significant proportion of patients with chronic diseases in Malaysia use herbal medicines as a complementary or alternative treatment to conventional medicine. The prevalence of herbal medicine use was found to be higher among patients with certain chronic diseases (CDs), such as hypertension and diabetes. The study also identified several factors associated with herbal medicine use, including demographic factors such as age, gender, and education level, as well as clinical factors such as disease severity and duration. Additionally, the study found that patients who used herbal medicines (HM’s) were more likely to have positive attitudes towards them and believed that they were effective in treating their chronic illnesses.