Open access · Peer reviewed · No APCs
Original ArticlePharmacognosy ResearchVol. 19 | Issue 1 | 2026 | pp. 243–251Open access
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Ethnomedicinal Therapies in Oral Cancer Care: Insights from Healthcare Professionals with Reference to Thuja occidentalis
- 1,2*,
- 2,
- 1,
- 3,
- 3,
- 2
- 1 Department of Bio-Chemistry, Center of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.
- 2 Department of Oral Pathology, Sathyabama Dental College, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.
- 3 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Najran University, SAUDI ARABIA.
Published in Pharmacognosy Research
Correspondence: Saranya Ramsridhar
Department of Bio-Chemistry, Center of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.; Department of Oral Pathology, Sathyabama Dental College, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.
Email: saranyaramsridhar@gmail.com
Copyright: © 2026 Manuscript Technomedia. This is an open access article.
- Published:
- Sep 23, 2026
- Received:
- Jun 11, 2026
- Accepted:
- Aug 29, 2026
How to cite
Ramsridhar, S., Chandini, R., Veeraraghavan, V., Mohideen, K., Ali-Hassan, M., & Balasubramaniam, M. (2026). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Ethnomedicinal Therapies in Oral Cancer Care: Insights from Healthcare Professionals with Reference to Thuja occidentalis. Pharmacognosy Research, 19(1), 243–251. https://doi.org/10.5530/pres.20270167
Abstract
Background
Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) remains a major global health challenge despite advances in conventional therapies. Growing interest in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has heightened attention to natural and plant-based therapies such as Thuja occidentalis (T. occidentalis) in oral cancer management. Healthcare professionals play an important role in guiding evidence-based use of these therapies.
Objectives
To evaluate the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) regarding T. occidentalis and CAM among healthcare professionals involved in oral cancer care.
Materails and Methods
A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 400 healthcare practitioners in Chennai, India, including medical practitioners, dentists, Ayurvedic physicians, and homeopathic practitioners. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, KAP domains, and perceived barriers related to ethnomedicinal plant use in oral cancer management. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression analysis were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27.0, with p<0.05 considered significant. A total of 400 eligible healthcare professionals were recruited, yielding a response rate of 100%.
Results
The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 3.16±2.00 (out of 9), 32.33±6.00 (out of 45), and 3.20±2.50 (out of 16), respectively. Overall awareness of CAM was high (85.0%), whereas specific knowledge regarding T. occidentalis was limited. Only 39.0% had heard of T. occidentalis, while awareness of adverse effects and herb-drug interactions was reported by 24.0% and 13.0% of participants, respectively. Positive attitudes toward integrating ethnomedicinal therapies were observed, with 78.0% supporting further research. However, clinical practice remained limited, with only 10.0% recommending CAM. Knowledge, attitude, and profession were significant predictors of practice levels (p<0.05), with attitude emerging as the strongest independent predictor. Lack of training and safety concerns were the major barriers reported.
Conclusion
Despite favorable attitudes, healthcare professionals demonstrated inadequate clinically relevant knowledge and limited practice regarding T. occidentalis in oral cancer management. Evidence-based educational initiatives are needed to support safe integration into oncology care.Top of Form
Keywords
Subject
Article metadata
| Title | Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Ethnomedicinal Therapies in Oral Cancer Care: Insights from Healthcare Professionals with Reference to Thuja occidentalis |
|---|---|
| Authors | Saranya Ramsridhar; R Chandini; Vishnupriya Veeraraghavan; Khadijah Mohideen; Mutaz Ali-Hassan; Murali Balasubramaniam |
| Affiliations | Department of Bio-Chemistry, Center of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.; Department of Oral Pathology, Sathyabama Dental College, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Najran University, SAUDI ARABIA. |
| Corresponding author | saranyaramsridhar@gmail.com |
| Journal | Pharmacognosy Research |
| Volume / Issue | Vol. 19, Issue 1 (2026) |
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