Role of community pharmacists in the safe and effective use of complementary and alternative medicine in the Middle East: A scoping review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Community 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. METHODS: A 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. RESULTS: The 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. CONCLUSIONS: The 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.