THE INTRODUCTION OF INSTRUCTION ON HERBAL REMEDIES AT OMAN MEDICAL COLLEGE IN THE GULF REGION OF THE MIDDLE EAST

David Smith^{1, 4}*, Sujith Chandy^{2, 4} and Chakra Dhar Tripathi^{3, 4},  ¹West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506 U.S.A. ²Christian Medical College, Vellore,  632004 India, ³Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, 110029 India, ⁴Oman Medical College, Sohar, PC321 Sultanate of Oman

Introduction

Herbal remedies provide a foundation for treatment of disease in the Gulf Region.  In the pharmacology course at Oman Medical College, 34 medical students were provided instruction on herbals with the expectation that they would be better prepared to assess the value and medical challenges of the remedies.  The impact of the instruction was assessed by a survey conducted before and after the learning activities.

Methods

A 17 question survey was conducted before and after 2 hours of lecture and a small group discussion.  The lecture was non-judgmental and focused on efficacy, safety and regulatory issues.  For discussion, individual students selected herbals commonly used in Oman and reported evidence for their effectiveness and safety.  Also, they described advice for patients about the herbal’s use and management of risks.

Results

Before and after instruction, most students indicated that herbal remedies were effective and safe.  However, their post-instructional responses indicated a greater understanding of the associated-risks.  For example, they showed increased appreciation of the need for scientific studies on effectiveness and safety, and also more clearly recognized the importance of an effective doctor-patient interaction.  Also, fewer would rely on herbals for treating life-modifying disease.  On a regular examination, students’ composite performance on questions related to herbals was 11 percentage points higher than on others.

Conclusion/Future Directions

Students’ acceptance of the need for a risk-based assessment of the use of herbals was increased by the instruction.  This instructional model may be useful in other schools in the Gulf Region.