Urban Pharmacists’ Experiences Integrating Herbal Medicine: A Phenomenological Study
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Abstract
The integration of herbal medicines into modern pharmacy practice has become a growing area of interest within pharmaceutical science, reflecting broader shifts toward holistic and patient-centered healthcare. Despite this trend, the subjective experiences and adaptive strategies of pharmacists in urban clinics remain underexplored, especially regarding how they navigate the boundaries between conventional and herbal therapies. This study addresses the gap by asking: How do pharmacists make sense of and experience the integration of herbal medicines in their daily practice? Using an interpretative phenomenological approach, this research investigates the lived experiences of pharmacists, offering nuanced insights into the meaning-making processes that shape professional adaptation. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with pharmacists practicing in urban clinics and analyzed thematically to identify key experiential themes. The results reveal that pharmacists experience a dynamic interplay between professional standards, patient expectations, and systemic barriers, often reconciling evidence-based practice with cultural sensitivity and ethical reflection. These findings demonstrate the importance of communication, trust-building, and lifelong learning in managing the challenges and opportunities presented by herbal medicine integration. By illuminating the individual and environmental factors influencing pharmacists’ practice, this study enriches current understanding and highlights the value of phenomenological inquiry for exploring complex healthcare phenomena. The insights gained have implications for pharmacy education, policy development, and future interdisciplinary research on integrative healthcare practices.
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