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. 2022 Nov 13;19(3):343–355. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.11.004

Table 2.

Evidence synthesis from the included studies.

Ref herbs/supplementary medications used Attitudes/beliefs
Articles with a clear distinction being made between herbs and supplementary medications
Li et al.75 Traditional Chinese Medicine Described as attitudes regarding TCM COVID-19 prevention (n = 2309).

  • •48.2% and 25.2% are confident and extremely confident in TCM treatment for COVID-19

  • •48.1% and 31.8% are confident and moderately confident in TCM prevention of COVID-19

  • •20.3% had no concerns about using TCM to prevent COVID-19?
Xia et al.71 Traditional Chinese Medicine Described as attitude scored using a questionnaire. (n = 10,824) No percentages provided

  • •Intention to use TCM during Covid-19 had the strongest relationship with attitude, followed by past behavior, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control.

  • •Attitudes toward TCM were significantly affected by perceived behavioral control, subjective norms and cognition of TCM.
Pu et al.69 Traditional Chinese Medicine Described as attitude:

  • •55.2% agreed with the statement “TCM can be used for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19″

  • •67% agreed with the statement “TCM can develop immunity to COVID-19″

  • •62.1% agreed with “TCM can alleviate the symptoms of patients with COVID-19″

  • •69.1% were aware that TCM has been recommended for COVID-19 by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China.
Mohsen et al.82 Dietary supplements Described as beliefs

  • •27.3% believe that dietary supplements are based on clinical trials

  • •38.9% believe that FDA regulates the safety of dietary supplements

  • •35.0% believe that dietary supplements can interact with drugs

  • •76.3% believe that dietary supplements are pre-tested for safety

  • •46.9% agree that dietary supplements can be labeled as drugs

  • •33.0% believe that dietary supplements available in pharmacies are safe

Described as attitude

  • •69.7% had a positive attitude towards the importance of dietary supplements in supporting good health

  • •24.3% agree that dietary supplements can replace food nutrients

  • •73.7% agree that dietary supplements are important for their immunity

  • •45.4% agree that dietary supplements cause symptoms

  • •30.1% agree that dietary supplements can affect health negatively

  • •21.3% agree that vitamin C can protect from flu
Alshammari et al.79 Dietary supplements Described as beliefs (n = 575)

  • •33.0% agree that dietary supplements are necessary in all ages

  • •41.2% agree that dietary supplements are essentially harmless

  • •25.2% agree that Regular dietary supplements intake can prevent chronic disease

  • •44.5% agree that Regular dietary supplements intake can cause kidney disease

  • •62.6% agree that Dietary supplements are effective for the purpose they used it for

  • •62.4% agree that Dietary supplements have an impact on sport performance

  • •57.0% believe that vitamin C is essential for immunity and 72.3% believe it prevents from common cold/flu

  • •66.8% believe that vitamin D is essential for immunity and 25.2% believe it prevents from common cold/flu
Puścion-Jakubik et al.83 Food supplements Described as beliefs

  • •32.6%, 42.9%, 59.1% believe that there were more advertisements for food supplements during the pandemic for the first, second and third wave respectively

  • •86.9%, 94.2%, 88.4% believe that food supplements have side effects in the first, second and third wave respectively

  • •70.9%. 77.5%, 73.4% believe that food supplements should be used only in the event of identified deficiencies in the first, second and third wave respectively

  • •91.1%, 96.1%, 94.0% believe that food supplements can be overdosed on in the first, second and third wave respectively

  • •89.9%, 95.9%, 91.0% believe that food supplements can interact with medications prescribed by the doctor, and thus affect the effectiveness of therapy in the first, second and third wave respectively
Altun et al.77 Dietary supplements Described as beliefs (n = 550)

  • •54.7% believe that dietary supplements are necessary during the pandemic
Herbal medicine Described as beliefs (n = 550)

  • •50.2% believe that herbal medicines are necessary during the pandemic
Nguyen et al.80 Herbal medicine Described as attitude

  • •70.1% agree that herbal medicine are natural therefore are safe

  • •29.5% agree that herbal medicines work better than conventional drugs

  • •70.7% agree that herbal medicines have less side effects than conventional drugs

  • •69.9% agree that herbal medicines are effective for minor health conditions

  • •38.0% agree that herbal medicines are effective for major health conditions

  • •65.7% are satisfied with the outcomes of using herbal medicines
Alyami et al.76 Herbal medicines Described as beliefs (n = 5245)

  • •13.3% believe that drinking turmeric tea helps increase immunity and reduce the chance of developing COVID-19

  • •19.7% believe that ginger tea helps to increase the immunity and reduce the chance of developing COVID-19

  • •34.4% believe that eating garlic helps to increase the immunity and reduce the chance of developing COVID-19

  • •20.6% believe that hat eating onions (or onion peel) helps to increase the immunity and reduce the chance of developing COVID-19

  • •9.5% believe that eating fish oil known as omega-3 helps to increase the immunity and reduce the chance of developing COVID-19

  • •3.4% believe that taking ginseng extract tablets help to increase the immunity and protect us from corona infection
Articles with NO clear distinction is made between herbs and supplementary medications used
Karataş et al.72 Described as beliefs

  • •33.7% believe that traditional and complementary therapies are effective for COVID-19

  • •91.5% believe that traditional and complementary therapies should be tested for side effects before use for COVID-19 treatment

  • •54.8 believe that traditional and complementary therapies have fewer side effects and safe than modern medications

  • •38.8% believe that traditional and complementary therapies are natural and should be used for the treatment of COVID-19
Teke et al.74 Described as attitude scored using a questionnaire. (n = 560) No percentages provided

  • •Participants had moderately positive attitudes toward Traditional and complementary Medicine.
A3
Kong et al.73 		Describes beliefs of traditional Chinese modalities

  • •48.8% believe in traditional Chinese modalities as prevention methods
Mshana et al.68 Describes the beliefs of traditional medicine and local remedies

  • •There is a strong belief that steaming and inhaling the steam of herbs protects against COVID
Articles where NO clear distinction is made in terms of attitudes, beliefs and behavior
d’Arqom et al.81 Article describes why participants used “anti-COVID” medications and supplements.

  • •To improve the immune system (88.4%).

  • •To protect from fatigue (6.6%)

  • •To reduce the disease symptoms (3.2%),

  • •To support respondents' activity (1.2%)

  • •To kill SARS-CoV-2 (0.6%)
AlNajrany et al.70 Article describes why participants used herbal products

  • •To boost immunity against the infection (64.0%)
Bhol et al.84 Article describes why participants use immuno-nutrition

  • •To boost immunity by participants.
Alotiby et al.78 Article describes why participants use herbal and natural products

  • •To improve their immunity but not as protection from the COVID-19 infection (69.3%)

  • •To improve their general health, (17.2%)

  • •To help alleviate COVID-19 symptoms, but not to cure the infection (8.7%)

To both reduce the infection's symptoms and cure it (3.8%)