An insight into pharmacy users’ habits of using herbal products in Serbia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Medicinal plants have long been used to treat diseases, and their use in herbal products is increasingly popular, especially for self-medication. This paper aims to assess the prevalence of herbal product use among pharmacy users in Serbia, as well as the motives and awareness regarding their use. Methods: A quantitative, nonexperimental survey research was conducted in community pharmacies across Serbia, involving 2208 respondents. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and inferential techniques (Chi-square test and binary logistic regression). Results: Nearly all pharmacy users (97.5%) use various herbal products. They most often use them as needed (39.7%), while 22.8% use them frequently, and a similar proportion use them infrequently (17.9%) or daily (17.1%). The most common motive for their use is to improve health (76.0%). Over half of the respondents (58.4%) reported purchasing herbal products from pharmacies. Additionally, 73.1% of respondents consistently received advice on the use of herbal products from pharmacists. The primary sources of information about herbal products were pharmacists (44.6%) and then the media (22.8%). Most respondents (58.6%) believe herbal products are safe but have some side effects, whereas 30.0% believe herbal products are completely free of side effects. Almost half of the respondents believe herbal products are as effective or more effective than synthetic medicines. Conclusion: Strengthening pharmacists’ role in counselling, developing pharmacy-based strategies, enforcing regulations, promoting pharmacy-based access, and providing pharmacist-led education, together with collaboration among healthcare professionals, regulators, and the media, is essential to ensure safe and informed use of herbal products