title: Patients' Preference for Integrating Homoeopathy Services within the Secondary Health Care Settings in India: The Part 3 (PPIH-3) Study.
abstract: Indian patients' preference for integrated homoeopathy services remains underresearched. Two earlier surveys revealed favorable attitude toward and satisfaction from integrated services. The objectives of this study were to examine knowledge, attitudes, and practice of homoeopathy and to evaluate preference toward its integration into secondary-level health care. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during May to October 2015 among 659 adult patients visiting randomly selected secondary-level conventional health care setups in Kolkata, Mumbai, Kottayam, and New Delhi (India) using a self-administered 24-item questionnaire in 4 local vernaculars (Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam, and Hindi). Knowledge and practice scores were compromised; attitude scores toward integration and legal regulation were high. Respondents were uncertain regarding side effects of homoeopathy and concurrent use and interactions with conventional medicines. A total of 82.40% (95% confidence interval = 79.23, 85.19) of the participants were in favor of integrating homoeopathy services. Preference was significantly higher in Delhi and lower in Kottayam. Probable strategic measures for further development of integrated models are discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1 Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rajkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manchanda
authors.affiliation: 2 Dr Anjali Chatterji Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Munmun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koley
authors.affiliation: 3 Independent Researcher, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Subhranil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: 2 Dr Anjali Chatterji Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Debabrata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: 4 Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Ramkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.affiliation: 5 Netai Charan Chakraborty Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Prosenjit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.affiliation: 5 Netai Charan Chakraborty Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Debjyoti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: 6 Regional Research Institute (Homoeopathy), Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Birendra Singh
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Rawat
authors.affiliation: 7 Central Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Bhuvaneswari
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rajachandrasekar
authors.affiliation: 1 Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mittal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: India; attitude; homoeopathy; integrative medicine; patients’ preference