Inclusion of courses on phytotherapy in undergraduate curriculum of health-related courses
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Since 2006, complementary therapies, including phytotherapy, have been offered to patients in Brazil through the public health system. This indicates that health-care professionals, mainly those responsible for prescribing medications, should be prepared to provide the best information to their patients. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of courses on phytotherapy in the undergraduate curricula of health-related courses. This was a transversal study in which information was gathered from federal universities offering undergraduate courses on health-related courses. Websites of higher education institutions, which were screened initially, were searched to access the syllabus of each offered course. Analysis of the obtained data showed that only the pharmacy curriculum offered mandatory courses on medicinal plants, herbal medicines, and/or phytotherapy. Of the surveyed higher education institutions, 36 offered elective courses on medicinal plants and phytotherapy. The obtained data indicated that the pharmacy curriculum offered the largest number of elective courses on the selected topics, while physical therapy and dentistry curricula offered the least number of elective courses. Thus, it is concluded that few undergraduate curricula of health-related courses. offered mandatory courses on medicinal plants, herbal medicines, and/or phytotherapy.
Key words: Herbal medicine, undergraduate medical education, curriculum.
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2153540907