Insights into Iraqi pharmacists’ perspectives, awareness and use of herbal medicines

With the rising use of herbal remedies and a lack of dependable information available to consumers, pharmacists play a critical role in offering accurate and informed advice on these products’ potential benefits and risks. This study sought to assess the knowledge, perceptions and professional behaviours of community pharmacists concerning herbal medicines. It also aimed to examine how pharmacists influence patient decisions about herbal product use and to pinpoint areas in need of professional development. A structured and anonymous questionnaire was distributed through email, social media and in-person methods. The survey encompassed demographic details, assessments of pharmacists' views and routines related to herbal medicine, the impact of their educational background on confidence levels and a 10 question quiz measuring factual knowledge. Data analysis was conducted using Qualtrics and Excel. Out of 156 community pharmacists surveyed, 42.9 % reported feeling confident in counselling patients about herbal products. Only 22.4 % regularly asked patients about their use of herbal medicines and 28.2 % recorded this information in their documentation. A small proportion (5.1 %) stated they never discussed potential adverse effects, while 9 % consistently addressed possible interactions between herbal and conventional medications. The mean knowledge score was 5.63 out of 10, indicating room for improvement in pharmacist preparedness regarding herbal medicine. The findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen pharmacists education on herbal medicines and ensure access to reliable resources. Enhancing these areas will improve patient safety and counselling quality.