Development of a Medicinal Plant Module for Puerto Rico

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been defined as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. The use of CAM has become widespread, with expense in the U.S. equal to all out-of-pocket expenses for physician services. Patient safety and access issues, financial and cost considerations and the role of CAM practices in health promotion and prevention are primary concerns for patients, providers, insurers, policy makers and health care managers in Puerto Rico as well as in other countries. However, studies on CAM use in the island are non-existent. This methodological poster presents the development of a Puerto Rican medicinal plant module as part of a culturally adapted CAM survey instrument based on the U.S. National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The module was developed based on focus groups input from conventional and CAM practitioners, CAM consumers and expert opinion from local herbalists. The final inventory identified 147 medicinal plants from Puerto Rico. Based on a pilot community household sample surveyed in the Bayamon Municipality, seventy three percent of respondents on a 12-month recall question reported using medicinal plants for prevention and wellness or to treat their health conditions. This is the first research-oriented, medicinal plant module of its kind in Puerto Rico. The project was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).