Relationships between Hispanic ethnicity and attitudes and beliefs toward herbal medicine use among older adults.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the underlying intentions to use herbal medicines among Hispanic older adults. Understanding these intentions is critical to the provision of effective counseling.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives were to (1) identify predictors of the intention to use herbal medicines for health problems in the next 6 months among Hispanic and non-Hispanic older adults using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB); and (2) compare their beliefs underlying significant predictors of intention with use herbal medicines for health problems in the next 6 months.


METHODS
Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected via self-administered questionnaires from convenience samples at a Senior Health Clinic and a Veterans Affairs Hospital outpatient pharmacy. Study subjects were community dwelling adults aged 65 years and older and able to complete the survey in English. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify the significant predictors of intention to use herbal medicines in the TPB within each ethnicity. Independent t tests were used to compare the beliefs underlying the significant predictors of intention with use herbal medicines across the 2 groups.


RESULTS
For both Hispanic (N=80) and non-Hispanic (N=171) patients, attitudes toward using herbal medicines was the only significant predictor of the intention to use herbal medicines in the next 6 months (Hispanics, Adj. R(2)=0.59, beta=0.78, P<.001; non-Hispanics, Adj. R(2)=0.57, beta=0.66, P<.001). The magnitude of the beta coefficients did not differ significantly between the 2 ethnicities. Compared with non-Hispanics, Hispanics believed that herbal medicines are cheaper, have fewer side effects, work better, and are more convenient to use than other medicines.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding ethnic differences in behavioral beliefs underlying attitudes toward the use of herbal medicines can help pharmacists and other health care professionals in educating and formulating appropriate counseling strategies specific to older patients of different ethnicities.
Gupchup
Gireesh V
GV
School of Pharmacy, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL 62026-2000, USA. ggupchu@siue.edu
Abhyankar
Upendra L
UL
Worley
Marcia M
MM
Raisch
Dennis W
DW
Marfatia
Aditya A
AA
Namdar
Rocsanna
R
D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D003376:Counseling; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012044:Regression Analysis