Evaluation of the Use of Herbal and Thai Traditional Medicines in Hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health In Roi-Et Province in 2014

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the use of herbal medicines and Thai traditional medicines of health care institutions under the Ministry of Public Health in Roi-Et during 2014, and to determine promoting factors and barriers of the use of such medications.  Methods: The researcher analyzed the data from the Data Center database on drug consumption, diagnosis, prescribing. Moreover, the research also used self-administered questionnaires to collect the data on promoting factors and barriers of the use of herbal medicines and Thai traditional medicines. The subjects were 150 medical personnel who were involved with the prescribing, consisting of three physicians, 4 Thai traditional doctors, 40 nurses, 86 public health officers in communities, 12 public health and  5 pharmacists. Results: In 2014, health care institutions under the Ministry of Public Health in Roi-Et had 1,493,298 outpatients and provided services for 5,851,144 times. There were 223,058 outpatients (14.94%) receiving care with Thai traditional medicines for 434,363 times or 7.42% of total times of services. On average, there were 16.59+6.87 items of herbal medicines and Thai traditional medicines.in each health institution (range: 5-34). Total consumption of herbal medicines and Thai traditional medicine in the province were 24,516,559 Baht or 3.13% of total drug consumption.  Prescribers reported that top three restrictions for using these medications were 1) prescribers had no knowledge on availability and indications 2) prescribers had inadequate information on these medications and 3) prescribers were not confident in the quality of these medication. Top three promoting factors for using these medications were 1) patient demand 2) Prescribers‘ confidence in herbal medicines and Thai traditional medicine and 3) regulations on the replacement of modern medications by herbal medicines and Thai traditional medicine. Conclusion: The rate of service provision with Thai traditional medicine remains low. Number of items of herbal medicines and Thai traditional medicine and sizes of hospitals show no effects on the consumption of these medications. Encouragement of the use of these medications should improve the acceptance of their effectiveness.  Inadequate knowledge and skills among prescribers are major barriers, resulting in the low consumption of these groups of medications.