Factors associated with herbal medicine prescription by health care providers in the primary care unit at Nonthaburi province
Keywords:
Prescribing of herbal medicine, public health providers, primary care unitAbstract
This study is cross-sectional research to study the factors associated with the prescription of herbal medicines by public health providers in primary healthcare units in Nonthaburi Province. The sample group consisted of 230 public health providers assigned to perform medical examination, diagnosis, and prescription duties for patients receiving services in primary care units. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test with a statistical significance level of < 0.05.
The research results showed that the prescription of herbal medicines by public health providers was at a high level. Factors significantly associated with the prescription of herbal medicines by public health providers in primary care units in Nonthaburi Province at the 0.05 statistical significance level included age, current position, work experience in the current position, experience in prescribing herbal medicines, knowledge of herbal medicines in the National List of Essential Medicines, attitudes toward herbal medicines in terms of confidence in their quality, effectiveness, and safety; challenges and obstacles in prescribing herbal medicines; and promotion of herbal medicine use. Additional factors included awareness of policies supporting herbal medicines, the herbal medicine system, support for prescribing herbal medicines from subdistrict health-promoting hospitals, and access to information about herbal medicines.
The results of this study provide empirical evidence for policymakers to use in planning, improving operational practices, and developing guidelines for the appropriate promotion of herbal medicine use in primary service units moving forward.
Keywords: The Prescribing Herbal Medicine; Public Health Providers; Primary Care Unit
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