Herbal Medicine Use in Israel: A Cross-Cultural Study
Author Information
Author(s): Eran Ben-Arye, Lev Efraim, Yael Keshet, Elad Schiff
Primary Institution: Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
Hypothesis
Primary care clinics may be an important setting for a future initiative to integrate CAM and conventional medicine.
Conclusion
Herbal medicine is widely used among both Arab and Jewish populations in northern Israel, with significant differences in usage patterns.
Supporting Evidence
- 59% of respondents identified as Arabs, while 41% identified as Jews.
- Arabs reported higher rates of herbal use compared to Jews (35% vs 27.8%).
- 92.8% of respondents supported adding CAM practitioners to their clinic's medical team.
Takeaway
This study shows that many people in Israel use herbal medicine, especially among Arabs, and they think it should be part of regular healthcare.
Methodology
Patients visiting primary care clinics were surveyed using a questionnaire about their use of herbal medicine and CAM.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to the convenience sampling method used in clinics.
Limitations
The study did not select a representative sample of the Jewish and Arab communities, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 2184 Arabs (Muslims, Christians, Druze) and 1529 Jews, with a mix of ages and educational backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P = .004
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website