| 2723 Are Clients/Patients Reporting Their Use of Herbal Remedies to Their Dental Practitioners? | ||
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G.N. CROSS-POLINE, University of Colorado School of Dentistry, Denver, USA Herbal usage has increased in recent years as clients/patients look for remedies that are natural and sold over the counter. These individuals may not understand the potential risk of interactions between herbal and prescribed medications and may not report their use to their medical and dental practitioners. Objectives: 1) Determine frequency of dental clients/patients using herbal remedies; 2) Characterize herbal and non-herbal users; 3) Describe the reporting behavior of herbal users to their dental and medical practitioners. Methods: A client/patient response survey was used. The survey gathered demographic information of participants, prescription drug and herbal use, and behavior in regards to reporting their herbal use to dental and medical practitioners. A convenience sample of 170 clients/patients volunteered for the study at four dental practices. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Forty-five of 170 respondents are taking some form of herbal remedy. (26 %). Significantly more women use herbal remedies than men (P=.001). The most commonly reported herbal remedies were echinacea, ginkgo, garlic and black cohosh. Most non-herbal and herbal users had similar behaviors on making health care decisions (P=.005). Eighty percent of respondents (136) reported they would tell dental practitioners about their herbal use, but only 28 % percent reported being asked during their dental visit if they used herbal remedies and what they were currently taking. The results were slightly more positive for their reporting to their medical practitioners. Conclusions: Dental practitioners are not knowledgeable about the number of their clients/patients using herbal remedies in their practices. Dental practitioners need to ask and note in client's/patient's medical history about the use of herbal remedies and educate themselves on common herbal remedies and the potential for drug interactions and contraindications to help advise clients/patients accordingly.
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| Seq #275 - Oral Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 11:00 AM-12:15 PM, Saturday, 28 June 2003 Svenska Massan Exhibition Hall B | ||
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