Comparison of Frequency and Indications of Use of Medicinal Plants in Medical and Non-medical Students in Qom, Iran

Herbal medicine is one of the methods being used in the treatment of diseases. Studies in Iran indicate high use of medicinal plants. Therefore, considering the serious effects of these plants on human health, the present study was performed with the purpose of comparing the frequency of use of medicinal plants in the students of medical and non-medical universities of Qom city in 2012. In this cross-sectional study, 360 students of Qom University of Medical Sciences and University of Qom (180 students from each University) were selected through stage random sampling. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Mann-whitney and chi-square tests. The significance level was considered p<0.05. The frequency of use of herbal medicines among the studied students was 75.3%, of which the frequency in non-medical students was reported 59.7% and in medical student 40.3%. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). Also, the most cases of use (90.4%) was for treatment of diseases, which from this point of view the frequency of use in medical students with 97.2% was significantly higher compared to students of the University of Qom with 85.8% (p=0.005). In light of the extensive use of herbal medicines by students, it is necessary to pay more attention to the role of continuous education and promotion of the culture of the use of herbal medicines in students.