Perceptions of Patients and Physicians Regarding Need for Taking Ayurveda Therapy

Abstract

Introduction: Globally there is great awareness about complementary health systems and its integration. Ayurveda is nowadays being increasingly preferred by patients; however, reasons for patients need to attend ayurveda Outpatient Department (OPD) and the approach of allopathic physicians towards ayurveda is minimally highlighted. Aim: To assess needs of patients attending ayurvedic OPD in an allopathic setup and to assess the clinical needs of physicians practicing allopathy for conditions which are not adequately treated by allopathy. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study among 300 patients attending ayurveda OPD and 50 allopathic physicians of a tertiary care hospital was undertaken after Institutional Ethics Committee permission. Separate questionnaires for patients and physicians related to needs of ayurveda were validated for content and administered to patients and physicians after receiving their due consent. Data entered in MS Excel 2010, responses were coded and analysed. Descriptive statistics was expressed in terms of actual numbers, mean±standard deviation, frequency and percentage. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Student’s unpaired t-test was used to compare the scores of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and parametric data. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. Results: The level of satisfaction to ayurveda therapy by VAS score was 7.67±1.58. Females patients were more satisfied with ayurveda than males. About 77 patients had taken Ayurveda medicine for maintaining good health and 71 feel it does not have any adverse effects. About 90.75% patients taking Allopathy had discontinued treatment before they visited ayurveda OPD. The percentages of patients attending ayurveda OPD and the percentage of physician’s that feel the need to develop ayurveda treatment were similar and matching for diseases which included arthritis, diabetes mellitus, backache, irritable bowel syndrome, malignancy, hypertension, alopecia, obesity, piles, viral hepatitis, degenerative spinal disease and migraine were common. Conclusion: The most common clinical condition for which both patients and physicians preferred ayurveda was for osteoarthritis. There is need for developing scientifically validated therapies for conditions wherein allopathy treatment is inadequate.

Keywords

• allopathy
• arthritis
• diabetes melllitus
• obesity
• traditional science