The Perception of Jordanian Population Towards Concomitant Administration of Food, Beverages and Herbs with Drugs and Their Possible Interactions: A Cross Sectional Study.

Thiab, Samar H; Barakat, Muna M; Al-Qudah, Rajaa A; Abutaima, Rana; Jamal, Rahma; Riby, Philip

BACKGROUND Many people are used to administering their drugs with food, beverages or herbs. These substances may contain chemicals that interfere with the prescribed drugs and could potentially lead to changes in their efficacy or safety, and could result in alterations in their pharmacokinetic properties. OBJECTIVE To assess the extent of the perception and consumption of food, beverages and herbs alongside conventional drugs, along with their potential interactions, specifically in Jordanian society. METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jordan (20 April - 5 May 2020). The survey was developed using Google Forms, then validated and distributed via social media platforms. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences-24. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Use and perception of food, beverages, herbs and how they interact with drugs among Jordanians. RESULTS Of all the participants (n = 789), 77.8% were females, 46.2% were 50-year-olds, 69.7% were married, 70.8% were medically insured, and 51.1% had bachelor's degrees. 70% of the study participants reported use of medicinal plants. About 66% of participants agreed that medicinal plants or herbs could treat diseases and 58.6% thought that medications could interact with drugs. In general, the participants' knowledge about food/beverage/herb-drug interactions was considered poor. However, a linear regression analysis showed that the level of knowledge was significantly affected (p-value <0.05) by gender, marital status, social status, educational level, and employment sector. CONCLUSION Jordanians have a positive perception towards herbs and their ability to treat diseases. However, their knowledge about food/beverage-drug interactions was poor. There is therefore a need to enhance the community awareness of food/beverage/herb-drug interactions.