What I don't tell my doctor: Herbal use among Latino patients in San Bernardino, CA

Medical pluralism describes the simultaneous use, and often dialectic relationship between two distinct medical or health systems. This presentation describes the preliminary findings of a research project that explores the use of herbal remedies among an immigrant population that accesses the biomedical health system. We used focus groups to elicit information regarding health beliefs and practices of first-generation Mexican immigrants. Focus group findings were used as a knowledge base to develop a survey tool that focused on the use of herbs for health maintenance, protection, and recovery; herbal use for specific illnesses; information-sharing regarding herbal use between patient and health care provider; and improving outcomes of patient-provider encounters. Finally we discuss how this study's findings will be used to develop culturally competent educational materials to increase levels of trust and communication between immigrant patients and health care providers.