ArticlePloS one2025
Role of community pharmacists in the safe and effective use of complementary and alternative medicine in the Middle East: A scoping review.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundCommunity pharmacists (CPs) play a crucial role in promoting safe use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). This scoping review examined existing evidence on the role of CPs in CAM in the Middle East, a region harboring one of the fastest growing markets of CAM.
methodsA comprehensive search of nine electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2025. A total of 155 studies met the inclusion criteria. Key study characteristics were extracted using a standardized data extraction form. Thematic analysis of findings and recommendations was carried out using NVivo software to identify common patterns, themes, and gaps in the literature.
resultsThe studies primarily used quantitative cross-sectional designs and were predominantly led by academic institutions. International and regional collaborations were scarce. Over the past 25 years, there has been a notable rise in the annual number of published papers; however, this upward trend was not reflected in the impact factors of the journals in which these papers appeared. The thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (1) Opportunities, including pharmacists' positive attitudes and willingness to take on active roles in CAM; (2) Challenges, such as knowledge gaps, poor reporting practices, logistical barriers to counseling, weak regulatory oversight, and misinformation driven by media; and (3) Recommendations, targeting improvements in practice, education, and policy.
conclusionsThe review findings suggest the need for studies to diversify their designs and strengthen cross-sector collaborations. To enhance CPs' role in ensuring the safe use of CAM, coordinated, evidence-based strategies are required. These should integrate professional development, regulatory reform, and targeted public education, ultimately supporting CPs in delivering informed, patient-centered CAM services.
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Registered trials
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