Public Attitudes Towards Traditional Medicine in Dermatological Care Within Blantyre, Malawi: Insights From Subject Matter Experts

NCT07812844 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: AC26013
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 13
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study aims to understand how people in Blantyre, Malawi recognise and manage common skin problems, and what role traditional medicine plays in their care. The main question it aims to answer are:

• How do people recognise and treat common skin conditions
• What can we learn from traditional knowledge to improve skin education and care Participants will take part in a study lasting 20 minutes. They will be asked about their experiences and where they seek help.

Conditions

Skin Conditions and Traditional Medicine

Keywords

dermatology; skin conditions; traditional medicine; ethnomedicine; Blantyre; Malawi; semi-structured interviews; decolonising medicine; health equity; health literacy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Number and content of themes describing participants' understanding and the role of traditional medicine use in the identification, treatment, and management of skin conditions, using reflexive thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews

  Single interview at enrollment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults who are clinicians or subject matter experts on skin conditions in Blantyre, Malawi.

You may qualify if:

• Over the age of 18
• Speaks English
• Involvement in the provision of care or study of skin conditions in either Western Medicine or Malawian ethnobotany
• Willing and able to provide informed verbal consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Under 18 years of age
• Individuals unable to give informed consent such as people lacking capacity
• Vulnerable populations such as children, refugees, prisoners, and individuals who are politically powerless
• Unwilling and unable to provide informed verbal consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Edinburgh: lead

Related Publications (2)

• Mosam A, Todd G. Dermatology Training in Africa: Successes and Challenges. Dermatol Clin. 2021 Jan;39(1):57-71. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2020.08.006.

  PMID: 33228862 BACKGROUND

• Makaula PU, Chateau AV, Hift RJ, Dlova NC, Mosam A. The impact of basic dermatology education and training on primary healthcare providers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2021 Jan 15;63(1):e1-e5. doi: 10.4102/safp.v63i1.5200.

  PMID: 33567838 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Skin Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 1, 2026
• First Posted: September 10, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): December 13, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 16, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 6, 2027
• Last Updated: September 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share