Information on the use of herbal medicinal products is at present available only from product specific studies, sales statistics and pharmacovigilance data. The data base PhytoVIS was therefore created as a tool to retrospectively document user’s experience with these products.
The survey was conducted in pharmacies and doctors’ practices in Germany by students of pharmacy or medicine. The only inclusion criterium was the use of herbal medicinal products within the last 8 weeks before the survey. Based on the therapeutic indication, the efficacy and tolerability of the products were endpoints. Furthermore, information on the point of sale and the recommendation of the use of the product was requested.
20,870 patients were included and their experience was documented in 24,056 questionnaires. In 78% of the participants, treatment was conducted for acute complaints, with 47% suffering from cold, flu and fever, 11% from bowel pain and digestive complaints and 9% from stomach and biliary complaints. Overall, 1433 different products were used. In 45% of the participants, the effect of the products was described as very good and in 39% as moderate. Products were mainly recommended by the pharmacists (35%) and physicians (27%). The products were bought in the pharmacy in 84% of the cases.
PhytoVIS turned out to be a suitable tool to study tolerability, safety and efficacy based on the rating of the patients. By the high number of users included, special patient groups as toddlers, pregnant women and elderly were also covered. The data base is an excellent source for medical information on the full range of herbal medicinal products in use.
Acknowledgement: The study is supported by Kooperation Phytopharmaka, Bonn, Germany