Evaluation of the viewpoints of patients into medicinal herbal products in Etimesgut town of Ankara province

EVALUATION OF THE VIEWPOINTS OF PATIENTS INTO MEDICINAL HERBAL PRODUCTS IN ETIMESGUT TOWN OF ANKARA PROVINCESarınca, YasinGraduate Degree, Phytotherapy DisciplineThesis Advisor: İlkay Erdoğan OrhanANKARA / June-2012In our thesis study, viewpoints of 250 patients consisting nof 56% of male and 44% of female who paid a visit to the pharmacies during the year of 2011 in Etimesgut vicinity in Ankara province into herbal medicinal products were established through face-to-face survey method. The findings were interpreted comparatively through statistical analysis using independant variables including gender, age, educational status, profession, monthly income, and habitation and the participant answers. According to the results we obtained, it was seen that the participants have trusted to physicians recommendation in use of herbal medicines. However, a little portion of the participants (8.8%) has found the pharmacists to be sufficient in directing towards use of herbal medicines. Besides, they have preferred herb and spice sellers (aktars) and the pharmacies in an equal rate in order to purchase herbal medicines. A correlation has been determined between the factors of educational status, habitation, and monthly income and those who direct towards use of herbal medicines through chi-square test analyses. A similar correlation existed between the educational status factor and the recommendation of famous people on herbal medicinal use for therapy. The present thesis is the first survey study performed by a pharmacy faculty targeting to determine aptitude of people towards herbal medicines. Necessity of playing more active role by pharmacists in herbal medicine consultancy has been emphasized once more via this survey results.Key words: Herbal medicine, medicinal herbal product, survey, statistical analysis, independent variable