Authors: Meznah Khalid Alsubaie , Hamad Abdulaziz Alsubaie , Abdulaziz Khalid Alsubaie , Saud Khalid Alsubaie , Najwa Khalid Alsubaie , Fatimah Yousef Alhashim , Rahaf Adel Aljarri , Mohammed Aladil , Mohanad Alsolami

Abstract

Background: Herbal medicine use has become an area of interest due to the dependence on evidence-based medicine. In Saudi Arabia, medical curricula focus on evidence-based medicine, raising questions about the influence of modern medicine teaching on students’ use of herbal remedies. However, no previous study has been conducted in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, particularly in Al-Ahsa.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 332 medical students at King Faisal University using a structured questionnaire adapted from a previous study. The questionnaire assessed herbal medicine use and perceptions towards it. Data were collected electronically and analyzed using SPSS version 29.

Results: The majority of students reported prior use of herbal medicine (82.2%), and 54.5% expressed interest in it. Herbal medicine was used for both therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Additionally, 41.9% of students reported that sometimes they avoid manufactured medicine in favor of herbal remedies, and 33.7% believed that herbal medicine is safer than manufactured drugs. No significant association was found between herbal medicine use and gender, academic year, residence, or family income (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Herbal medicine use is still highly prevalent among medical students and appears to be strongly influenced by cultural and religious factors. These findings highlight the need to incorporate herbal medicine education into medical curricula to promote safe practices and improve awareness of potential risks.

Keywords: Herbal medicine, prevalence, medical student, university students, King Faisal University, modern medicine.