Behavior of the level of knowledge about phytotherapy in Colon municipality. (January-December/2018)

Abstract

Introduction: The use of phytotherapy may procure a deep health trnsformation with a lower risk derived from the side effects inherentts to oharmachological drugs.

Objects: To value the level of knowledge about phytotherapy in the patients of the Principal Municipal Pharmacy of Colon municipality, Matanzas province in the period from January to December of the year 2018.

Material and Methods: The study classified as descriptive abservational of transversal cut. The universe was constituted by 1000 patients who visited the drug store loking for phytomedicines. It was used the participating observation, methods, procedures and techniques of recollection and the interview. The studied variables were: age, school level, use of natural traditional medicine for diseases, use of phytomedicines, and knowledges about on the alert of interactions with other drugs. It was solicited the informed consent to participate in the investigation.

Results: A half of the population uses natural medicine (green) and a 78 % acquires it without a medical indication, being more used in patients over 48-year-old, and in respiratory processes but a 74 % uses it without knowing about on the alert of interaction with other medications.

Conclusions: The population has knowledge about phytomedicines that they consume by their own consent of selfmedication, but the level of information about side effects and medicamental interactions is poor, which indicates that as much as doctors than pharmacists must contribute more about this therapeutic modality with the purpose to avoid problems related to natural medications and in general to bring about its rational and effective use.