Exploring the Potential of Herbal Remedies in Indonesia: Insights from the Wellness Index in the Jamu Registry Database

Global health systems are grappling with escalating challenges, including the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, a growing geriatric population, and rising healthcare costs (Maresova et al., 2019). In response to these critical issues, both patients and healthcare providers are advocating for the transformation of healthcare services, emphasizing on personalized and patient-centered care (Brunner-La Rocca et al., 2016, Dang et al., 2021, Holman, 2020). This shift reflects a broader global trend towards more holistic and individualized approaches to healthcare, acknowledging that a uniform approach does not fit all. The accomplishments of the Human Genome Project (HGP) have brought personalized medicine into realization, and modern medicine is progressing toward a new individualized health care model that encompasses biological, psychological, social, environmental, and spiritual characteristics, reflecting the principles of patient-centered care (Zhang et al., 2012). In line, traditional medicine, including herbal treatments, focuses on patients rather than the disease, drawing from empirical observations, forming the foundation of personalized medicine (Zhang et al., 2012). Notably, within the context of Indonesia, there has been a notable expansion of herbal services since 2010. Despite the growing interest among physicians in herbal remedies, the scientific evidence regarding the quality, safety, and effectiveness of herbal treatments remains in question (Ekor, 2014, Moreira et al., 2014, Ulhaq et al., 2021b, Ulhaq et al., 2021a). On the other hand, to achieve personalized healthcare service, the integration of traditional herbal practices and modern medicine requires a careful balance between patient preferences and evidence-based care (Ulhaq et al., 2021c, Wicaksono et al., 2023).

Herbal services have gained recognition among healthcare community in Indonesia, particularly in the Java-Bali region. Among the 108 doctors engaged in herbal service, 76.9% have been prescribing herbal medicine for an average of 2 patients per day (Purwadianto et al., 2012). These clinicians prescribing herbs for various purposes, but mostly used as complementary treatment. Previous study involving 114 doctors from 12 provinces in Indonesia, 86.8% of respondents acknowledged using herbs alongside conventional treatments (Siswoyo et al., 2014), implying an inclination towards integrating traditional and modern approaches in treating patients. However due to lack of regulations and controversies surrounding herbal services, a novel research initiative focusing on service-based activities within the herbal medicine was established from 2014 to 2018. This initiative, known as the "Jamu Registry", involving the documentation of herbal practices using the herbal medical record, which has been integrated into a web-based recording system as a comprehensive database.

Unlike conventional medical record, herbal medical records merge conventional medical records with traditional health practices. This approach distinguishes between subjective and objective parameter assessments, placing a particular emphasis on improving metrics such as the wellness index (WI, a modification of the Quality of Life (QoL) short form-36 (WHO) questionnaire developed by the National Herbal Medicine Scientific Commission (NIHRD)), disease score, and Patient Reported Outcome Measurement (PROM) which constitutes a crucial component within the domain of patient-centered care. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of herbal treatments, we assessed the WI score of herbal medicine to provide insights into the outcomes of herbal interventions in terms of overall well-being.

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