title: Patients' preference for integrating homeopathy (PPIH) within the standard therapy settings in West Bengal, India: The part 1 (PPIH-1) study.
abstract: There is lack of studies assessing the preference of Indian patients for integration of homeopathy into standard therapy settings. The objectives of this study were to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of homeopathy among Indian patients already availing homeopathy treatment and its integration into mainstream healthcare. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult patients attending the out-patients of the four government homeopathic hospitals in West Bengal, India. A self-administered 24-items questionnaire in local vernacular Bengali was developed and administered to the patients. A total of 1352 patients' responses were included in the current analysis. 40% patients thought that homeopathic medicines can be used along with standard therapy. 32.5% thought that homeopathic medicines might cause side effects, while only 13.3% believed that those might interact with other medications. Patients' knowledge ranged between 25.1 and 76.5% regarding regulations of practicing and safety of homeopathic medicine in India and abroad; while positive attitude towards the same ranged between 25.4 and 88.5%. 88.6% of the patients had favorable attitude toward integrated services. 68.2% of the patients used homeopathic medicines in any acute or chronic illness for themselves and 76.6% for their children. Preference for integrated services was significantly associated with better knowledge (P = 0.002), positive attitudes toward safety and regulations (P < 0.0001), and integration (P < 0.0001), but not with the level of practice (P = 0.515). A favorable attitude toward integrating homeopathy into conventional healthcare settings was obtained among the patients attending the homeopathic hospitals in West Bengal, India.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit (Homeopathy), Siliguri, under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Government of India, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Munmun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koley
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit (Homeopathy), Siliguri, under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Government of India, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Subhranil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit (Homeopathy), Siliguri, under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Government of India, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Jogendra Singh
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit (Homeopathy), Siliguri, under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Government of India, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Gurudev
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Choubey
authors.affiliation: Department of Organon of Medicine and Homeopathic Philosophy, Midnapore Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Aloke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Homeopathic Pharmacy, Midnapore Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik Deb
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Organon of Medicine and Homeopathic Philosophy, D N De Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Subhasish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.affiliation: Department of Homeopathic Repertory, D N De Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Samit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.affiliation: Department of Organon of Medicine and Homeopathic Philosophy, The Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sangita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, The Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, The Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Kajal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Shubhamoy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sk Swaif
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ali
keywords: India; attitude; homeopathy; integrative medicine; patients' preference