Crude herbs usage among patients with hypertension living in a suburban setting of Malaysia

Raphael Joe, Joachimdass (2023) Crude herbs usage among patients with hypertension living in a suburban setting of Malaysia. Master dissertation/thesis, UTAR.

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Abstract

Hypertension is a worrying health condition with three out of ten Malaysian adults being diagnosed with hypertension in 2019. Study objectives were to determine the prevalence, predictors and perceptions crude herbs use to manage hypertension among primary care outpatients; to identify the diversity of crude herbs being integrated in managing hypertension; to compare the health-related quality of life of hypertension patients who are taking crude herbs and who are not taking crude herbs. Firstly, a systematic review on herbs use to manage hypertension was conducted. A cross sectional study was done in a Malaysian government health clinic to determine the prevalence and diversity of crude herbs use. The international complementary and alternative medicine questionnaire (I-CAM-Q) was modified to determined crude herbs use while SF36 assessed HRQOL measurements. A qualitative study was employed and explored the perceptions of patients used crude herbs with conventional medicine. The systematic review showed the prevalence of herbs used ranged iii from 6.5% to 69.0%. For quantitative study, 294 participants were recruited; most were female (n=154) and Malays (n=122). Prevalence of crude herbs users was 30.6% with pegaga (Centella asiatica) being the most common herb. There are a total of 52 different combinations of known crude herbs that were reported by the patients. Crude herbs use was significantly higher among patients with secondary education, from Malay or Indian ethnic groups, high systolic blood pressure (above 140 mmHg) and experienced falls or muscle pain. For HRQOL domains, no significant difference (p>0.05) was noted between users and non-users of crude herbs. This study identified different types of crude herbs usage gave no significant impact on HRQOL among hypertensive patients on medication. The patients perceived that crude herbs use are traditional, natural and gave no side effects. A guideline and information on evidence-based crude herbs usage targeted to patients on medication is warranted.

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