use of medicinal plants and its association with health literacy in the general population of iran during the covid-19 pandemy: a web-based cross-sectional survey

Background and objectives: during health crises like covid-19, people with different health conditions turn to traditional/herbal remedies, which can affect their health status. this study aimed to determine medicinal plant consumption and its association with health literacy during the covid-19 pandemic in iran. methods: this web-based cross-sectional study involved 1242 iranians aged 18 to 65. data were collected using the iranian health literacy questionnaire (ihlq), covid-19-related variables, and a socio-demographic information questionnaire, analyzed by simple and multiple logistic regression analyses using spss 16.0. results: it was found that 51.4% (n=638) of participants had used medicinal plants and herbal products, with a mean health literacy (hl) score of 76.16. thyme (50.6%), ginger (34.9%), and cinnamon (24.4%) were the most commonly used plants; the most popular methods were infusion (78.3%) and decoction (32.2%). according to the adjusted analysis, the use of medicinal plants was significantly associated with being older (odds ratio (or)=1.85, 95% confidence interval (ci):1.14-3.00), having contact with suspected/confirmed covid-19 cases (or=1.94, 95% ci:1.39-2.71), and having family members, friends, and/or relatives infected with covid-19 (or=1.37, 95% ci:1.00-1.88). also, people who consulted with a physician or pharmacist before using medicinal plants had statistically higher mean hl scores than those who did not (p<0.001), as do those who consider potential interactions with other medications or medicinal plants (p<0.001). conclusion: considering that at least half of the people used medicinal plants during the covid-19 outbreak, providing accurate information by regulatory organizations on medicinal plants, their potential side effects, and interactions, especially during times of crisis, seems to be urgent.