Are meta-analyses of Chinese herbal medicine trials trustworthy and clinically applicable? A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Pregnant women’s disclosure of herbal medicine (HM) use to their health care providers during pregnancy is crucial, as misuse of HM can have a detrimental effect on both pregnant woman and the fetus. However, the lack of disclosure of HM use to physicians remains a public health concern in developing countries such as Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 postpartum women admitted at Maternity and Women’s Hospital located in Kathmandu, Nepal. The survey instrument included 30 questions on the use of HM during pregnancy, sociodemographic and health characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes. Chi-square test and logistic regression were conducted for data analysis using SPSS ver. 21.0., and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Results 60.3% of respondents used at least one herbal remedy during their previous pregnancy, and the overall disclosure rate of HM use to healthcare providers was 54.6%. Women with secondary education level and four or more antenatal care visits were more likely to disclose their HM use to healthcare providers. Conclusions This study highlights that despite the popular use of HM among pregnant women in Nepal, most women obtained HM-related information from informal sources and did not disclose their HM use to physicians. To ensure the safe use of HM, physicians should integrate questions regarding patients’ HM use into their routine patient assessments to facilitate active communication and improve the quality of care.

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The methodological quality and clinical applicability of meta-analyses on probiotics in 2020: A cross-sectional study

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy ◽

10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112044 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 142 ◽

pp. 112044

Author(s):

Jakub Ruszkowski ◽

Katarzyna Majkutewicz ◽

Ewelina Rybka ◽

Marcin Kutek ◽

Alicja Dębska-Ślizień ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Methodological Quality ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Clinical Applicability ◽

Meta Analyses

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Characteristics and quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational nutritional epidemiology: a cross-sectional study.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.739779843.793586563 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Saravana Kumar ◽

Esther Tian

Keyword(s):

Systematic Reviews ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Nutritional Epidemiology ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Meta Analyses

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Concomitant use of medicinal plants with antiretroviral drugs among HIV/AIDS patients in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal ◽

10.4314/epj.v35i1.6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 59-66

Author(s):

Arebu Issa Bilal ◽

Bruck Messele ◽

Dawit Teshome ◽

Zelalem Tilahun ◽

Teferi Gedif Fenta

Keyword(s):

Herbal Medicine ◽

Herbal Medicines ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Modern Medicine ◽

Antiretroviral Drugs ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Keywords Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

In spite of an increase in the health service coverage of the country, studies reported that significant proportion of the Ethiopian population still relies on traditional medicine, particularly on the herbal aspect, for their healthcare. The aim of the present study was to determine the extent of the concomitant use of herbal medicines with modern antiretroviral medicines and identify the commonly used herbs among patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2017 among HIV/AIDS patients in five hospitals selected from four regions and one city Administration (Addis Ababa). A total of 768 HIV/AIDS patients were successfully interviewed and included in the analysis. Most 480 (62.5%) of them were on tenofovir-disoproxil fumarate (TDF) plus lamivudine (3TC)and efavirenz (EFV) regimen. Two hundred nineteen (28.5%) patients reported that they had used herbal medicines to treat their illness; of these 145 (66.2%) used herbal products along with modern medicine. Of those who reported to have used herbal medicine with modern medicine, 53 (40.8%) claimed that they took the herbal medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, while 51(39.2%) used for treating co-morbid diseases. Only 33 (15.0%) of those who used herbal medicines along with modern drugs discussed the issue either with their physicians or pharmacists. A total of 31 plant species were reported to be used for the treatment as well as alleviation of symptoms associated with the disease. The most commonly cited herbal medicines that have been used by HIV/AIDS patients to treat their comorbid diseases were Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. (Moringaceae) (35.6%) followed by Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. (Lamiaceae) (18.0%), Zheneria scabra Sond. (Cucurbitaceae) (7.2%), Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae) (5.7%), and Ruta chalapensis L. (Rutaceae) (5.7%). The study revealed that close to one-third of HIV/AIDS patients interviewed reported use of herbal medicine and almost two-thirds of them did so concomitantly with modern medicine. Only small percentage of the patients who used herbal medicines along with modern drugs disclose the use either to their treating physicians or to counselling pharmacists. Practitioners involved in antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics, therefore, need to inquire information related to the use of herbal medicines and accordingly advise the patients. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, medicinal plant, cross-sectional study, concomitant use, Ethiopia

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