Knowledge of students of a bachelor´s degree in general physician on the use of medicinal plants to treat chronic degenerative disease

Abstract

Introduction: The state's population needs other therapeutic resources, which come from medicinal plants because they are accessible, practical, and have fewer harmful effects. This is due to the absence of doctors in rural areas, a lack of human empathy, and the belief that students at certain educational institutions lack knowledge about the use and effects of medicinal plants. This study aims to analyze the level of knowledge of 10th-semester students in the General Medicine Degree Program in the Health Sciences Area at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas regarding the uses of medicinal plants in the treatment of chronic degenerative diseases. Methodology: A mixed and exploratory methodology was used, which allowed for the establishment of thematic categories of analysis to observe the students' level of knowledge. Results and Discussion: It was found that about 7.1% of the students had high knowledge, 29.3% had intermediate knowledge, and 61.4% had low knowledge, because most were unable to answer basic questions about the uses of medicinal species to treat chronic degenerative diseases (ECDs). Furthermore, it is alarming that nearly 75% have used plants at home to treat a ECD, considering them beneficial to health, and are not even aware of the adverse effects they can cause. Conclusions: Students demonstrate a low level of knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants to treat ECDs. Furthermore, many situations in rural Zacatecas are unknown in terms of lack of access to medical services, and it is likely that only medicinal plants are accessible, representing a constant challenge for state health systems.