Table 4.
Awareness of interaction between conventional medicine and herbs, disclosure of HDS use to their physicians, effects reported by patients, and expense of HDS
| Total (%) n = 122 |
Current use n = 56 |
Former use n = 66 |
p - value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness of interaction | 0.036* | |||
| Yes Probably No |
7 (5.7) 26 (21.3) 89 (73.0) |
0 14 42 |
7 12 47 |
|
| Informed their physician about HDS use | 0.844 | |||
| Yes No |
37 (30.3) 85 (69.7) |
16 40 |
21 45 |
|
| Reasons for undisclosed use of HDS | 0.469 | |||
| Their physician doesn’t ask No need to inform their physician Their physician will disapprove of HDS use |
40 (32.8) 28 (23.0) 17 (13.9) |
19 12 9 |
21 16 8 |
|
| Effects reported by patients | ||||
| No change | 47 (38.5) | 17 | 30 | 0.037* |
| Positive effectsa | 66 (54.1) | 37 | 29 | |
| Negative effectsb | 9 (7.4) | 2 | 7 | |
| Expenditure on HDS, baht (IQR)c | 300 (100–700) | 295 (100–500) | 300 (7.5–1037.5) | 0.920 |
Abbreviations: HDS herbal and dietary supplements, IQR interquartile range
* Statistically significant at p-value <0.05
aPositive effects include strengthening of the body, good psychological condition and relief of several symptoms
bNegative effects include worsening of physical or psychological condition
c1 USD = approximately 35.5 Thai baht