Attitude, Behavior, and Practice of Indian Homeopathic Physicians toward Single and Multiple Medicines: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background The use of a single medicine at a time in drug proving and application in disease was developed scientifically to assess the pure action of the medicines in both healthy individuals and those with disease in Hahnemann's time. However, in real-world practice, there is a vast diversity among practitioners since the time Hahnemann propagated the homeopathic theory. No study has been conducted yet to understand the prevalence and distribution of practitioners using various prescription methods.

Materials and Methods An online survey was conducted among the practitioners in India to understand their attitudes, behavior, and practice related to their prescription of single and multiple medicines. We designed a questionnaire by consensus and finalized it after preliminary pilot testing and incorporating necessary amendments suggested by experts. The questionnaire was disseminated through Google Forms using social media platforms. Statistical analysis was done according to the data types (continuous or categorical).

Results A total of 558 people consented and participated in the study. Of these, 325 (58%) were males and 235 (42%) were females. The mean age of the participants was 35.15 ± 10.53 years, with the maximum number of participants in the age group of 24 to 35 years (n = 345, 61.6%). Most of the participants had the educational qualification of Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS; n = 326, 58.2%) followed by the qualification of Doctor of Medicine in Homeopathy (MD (Hom); n = 193, 34.5%). On a scale of 1 to 10, the response for success in prescribing single medicines (7.36 ± 1.93) was significantly more than the success in prescribing multiple remedies (5.372 ± 2.77). Additionally, frequency of prescription, prescribing patents, biochemic, combinations, external applications, and other aspects were also evaluated.

Conclusion Standardized education system and practice are required for uniformity in prescription practices of Indian homeopathic physicians.

Keywords

prescription practices - homeopathy - India - cross-sectional study

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