สถาบันวิจัยระบบสาธารณสุข

This descriptive study was aimed at comparing the cost of herbal medicine to replace conventional medicine for the treatment of five health conditions in a five-year period (2002 - 2006). The study was performed between May 2007 and August 2008. The study samples comprised 65 health care workers and 260 clients in regional hospitals and 12 community hospitals in Lampang Province. The research instruments used consisted of (1) a record of the cost of herbal medicine and conventional medicine treatment of five health conditions: irritable bowel syndrome, sore throat (non-infectious) constipation, herpes, and musculoskeletal/joint diseases, (2) a questionaire for herbal medical orders, and (3) a satisfaction form to record the use of herbal medicine. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics; the cost of herbal medicine replacing conventional medicine was compared by t-test and clients satisfaction analyzed by chi-square. The results indicated that the cost of most herbal medicine compared with conventional medicine for five health-condition treatments in Lampang Province increased during the period studied. The cost of Turmeric increased from 85,717 baht in 2002 to 551,272 baht in 2006; Andrographis increased from 28,152 baht to 138,681 baht, Senna alata leaves increased from 2,797 baht to 27,104 baht, and Clinacantus nutans leaves increased from 3,490 baht to 18,101 baht and Zingiber montanum increased from 14,243 baht to 298,446 baht. The comparative cost of herbal medicine during the period 2002-2006 significantly increased (p < 0.05), except for Zingiber montanum (p = 0.074). Concerning the health care workers’ perceptions about herbal medicine, we found that the sample population experienced increases of 75.4 percent in ordering Turmeric, 63.1 percent for Andrographis, 40 percent for Senna alata leaves, 41.5 percent for Clinacantus nutans leaves and 58.5 percent for zingiber montanum. The main reasons for the decision to order was a perceived drug indication. For the clients’ satisfaction in using herbal medicine as a replacement for conventional medicine, we found that the clients had experience in using Turmeric (68.5 percent), Andrographis paniculata (70 percent), Candelabra bush (15.4 percent), Clinacantus nutans (29.6 percent) and Zingiber montanum (69.2 percent). Satisfaction was highly significant (p < 0.001); the reasons for satisfaction were knowing the indications and having experience in using the herbals. Based on our study results, the herbal medicines used were Turmeric, Andrographis, Senna alata leaves, Clinacantus nutans leaves and Zingiber montanum for increasingly replacing conventional medicine in the regional hospital and 12 community hospitals in Lampang Province from 2002 to 2006. The increasing rate resulted from the supportive policy of promoting herbal medicines in the health delivery system, organizing herbal medicine symposiums, and reminding healthcare workers by displaying posters on how to use herbal medicines at dispensing units.