Abstract
Background
Despite homeopathy being the most prevalent complementary health care system in India,
little has been known about the appreciation or aptitude for research among its over
17,000 interns across the country.
Aims
The current study was conducted by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy
(CCRH) in association with the National Commission for Homoeopathy to evaluate the
status of knowledge, awareness, attitude and practical activity in research, as well
as perceived barriers to conducting research, among homeopathy interns in India.
Methods
An online cross-sectional survey was performed for a period of 1 month from mid-December
2023 to mid-January 2024 among the interns of the nation's 261 homeopathy medical
institutes. The questionnaire was developed based on similar earlier studies on graduates
in medicine. Responses from 2,381 interns were analyzed.
Results
The sample demographic consisted mostly of the 21-25 years age group (92%), females
(71%), private institutions (84%) and located in urban areas (43%). The largest numbers
of respondents were from the states of Maharashtra (28%), Gujarat (17%) and Tamil
Nadu (13%). There was some regional variation in Knowledge & Awareness scores, but
no significant difference was seen across age groups, gender, type of institute or
locality of institute. More than half (56%) of the interns strongly disagreed with
a requirement for research in homeopathy. Nearly half of the interns believed that
research promotes critical thinking and recognized that research can be a good career
option. Only a small number of interns had regularly participated in the CCRH's Short-Term
Studentship in Homeopathy program. Many interns at least sometimes attended research
workshops/seminars or participated as the subjects of research. Lack of familiarity
with the necessary skills was identified as the chief barrier toward research participation.
Conclusion
The study revealed interns' good awareness, moderate knowledge of research principles
and a diverse attitude to homeopathy that included a negative majority view of the
need for research. Improving the quality and the importance of research-related education
for interns in homeopathy, together with schooling in relevant research methods and
skills, can be addressed with tailored interventions by India's education and research
authorities.
Keywords
attitude - awareness - homeopathy - interns - knowledge - research practice
