Knowledge, attitudes and practices with regard to prophetic medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia

D. Almaghasla, A. Alsayari, S. Wahab, A.A. Motaal

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Unit, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. amira.abdelmotaal@pharma.cu.edu.eg

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• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacy

OBJECTIVE: The current study explores the impact of Prophetic medicine’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices on the Saudi population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study used a web-based cross-sectional design. A self-selected nonprobability sampling technique was utilized to recruit social media users in Saudi Arabia aged ≥18.

RESULTS: Four statements were used to evaluate participants’ knowledge of the role of prophetic medicine in preventing and treating COVID-19. The participants had significant levels of knowledge, with an average of 90.3% correct answers. They strongly agreed with prophetic advice, including quarantine, travel bans and hand washing to prevent COVID-19 infection, with a mean of 4.3. In addition, the participants followed prophetic advice, including walking for half an hour, keeping social distance, wearing masks, and taking vaccines to prevent COVID-19 infection, with a mean of 4.2.

CONCLUSIONS: The current study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Muslim residents of Saudi Arabia concerning prophetic medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study revealed that participants had good knowledge of prophetic medicine, including the use of natural products such as honey, ginger, garlic, and olive oil, as well as herbal products such as black seeds, and practices such as cupping. The study also showed that participants strongly believed that COVID-19 preventative measures – including quarantine, travel bans, and handwashing – were introduced by prophetic medicine. Practices including self-isolation, hand washing, and travel bans help prevent, treat and control diseases. They assist in maintaining good health and developing resistance to diseases.

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