Clement Yuri N, Williams Arlene F, Aranda Derick, Chase Ronald, Watson Nadya, Mohammed Rochelle, Stubbs Odia, Williamson Deneil
Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St, Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2005 Feb 15;5:3. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-5-3.
There is an increasing prevalence of asthma in the Caribbean and patients remain non-compliant to therapy despite the development of guidelines for management and prevention. Some patients may self-medicate with medicinal herbs for symptomatic relief, as there is a long tradition of use for a variety of ailments. The study assessed the prevalence of use and the factors affecting the decision to use herbs in asthmatic patients attending a public specialty care clinic in Trinidad.
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Chest Clinic in Trinidad using a de novo, pilot-tested, researcher-administered questionnaire between June and July 2003.
Fifty-eight out of 191 patients (30.4%) reported using herbal remedies for symptomatic relief. Gender, age, ethnicity, and asthma severity did not influence the decision to use herbs; however, 62.5% of patients with tertiary level schooling used herbs, p = 0.025. Thirty-four of these 58 patients (58.6%) obtained herbs from their backyards or the supermarket; only 14 patients (24.1%) obtained herbs from an herbalist, herbal shop or pharmacy. Relatives and friends were the sole source of information for most patients (70.7%), and only 10.3% consulted an herbalist. Ginger, garlic, aloes, shandileer, wild onion, pepper and black sage were the most commonly used herbs.
Among patients attending the Chest Clinic in Trinidad the use of herbal remedies in asthma is relatively common on the advice of relatives and friends. It is therefore becoming imperative for healthcare providers to become more knowledgeable on this modality and to keep abreast with the latest developments.
加勒比地区哮喘的患病率不断上升，尽管已制定了管理和预防指南，但患者仍不遵守治疗方案。由于草药长期以来被用于治疗各种疾病，一些患者可能会自行使用草药来缓解症状。本研究评估了特立尼达一家公立专科护理诊所中哮喘患者使用草药的患病率以及影响使用草药决策的因素。
2003年6月至7月，在特立尼达的胸部诊所进行了一项描述性横断面研究，使用了一份全新的、经过预试验且由研究人员管理的问卷。
191名患者中有58名（30.4%）报告使用草药缓解症状。性别、年龄、种族和哮喘严重程度并未影响使用草药的决策；然而，受过高等教育的患者中有62.5%使用草药，p = 0.025。这58名患者中有34名（58.6%）从自家后院或超市获取草药；只有14名患者（24.1%）从草药师、草药商店或药店获取草药。亲戚和朋友是大多数患者（70.7%）信息的唯一来源，只有10.3%的患者咨询过草药师。生姜、大蒜、芦荟、炮弹树、野洋葱、胡椒和黑鼠尾草是最常用的草药。
在特立尼达胸部诊所就诊的患者中，在亲戚和朋友的建议下使用草药治疗哮喘相对普遍。因此，医疗保健提供者有必要对这种治疗方式有更多了解，并跟上最新发展。
