Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding COVID-19 and homoeopathy among the citizens of Delhi and national capital region, India: a cross-sectional online survey

Authors

  • Gyandas G. Wadhwani Holistic Homoeopathic Clinic and Research Center, New Delhi. Former Chief Medical Officer (NFSG) (H), Directorate of AYUSH (Homoeopathic Wing), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Member of Aude Sapere groups, South Africa and Delhi, http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1932-645X
  • Anupriya Chaudhary Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (Headquarters.), under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India
  • Aditi Chadha Department of Pharmacovigilance, Dr. D. P. Rastogi Central Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Noida, under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India
  • Lovepreet Kaur Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (Headquarters.), under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India
  • Khushbu Chaudhary Department of Materia Medica. J. R. Kissan Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak, Haryana Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India
  • Varun Choudhary Department of Organon. Bakson Homoeopathic Medical College, Greater Noida, UP. Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20204752

Keywords:

COVID 19, Delhi and national capital region, Homoeopathy, KAP survey

Abstract

Background: Infectious disease pandemic of COVID-19 continues to be a global & public health challenge. Delhi and NCR of India is densely populated with access to an integrated health care delivery system, with a promoted preventive homoeopathic medicine for flu like illnesses. To assess knowledge, attitudes and practices to this unanticipated situation and homoeopathy a survey was conducted.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in a sample of the residents of Delhi and NCR using a self-prepared pilot-tested structured format. The obtained data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: 925 people completed the survey with 55.5% of the study group being females. Mean knowledge score obtained was 7.57±1.41 (good knowledge ≥9; average 6-8; poor ≤5) while mean attitude score was 3.27±1.31 (negative score 0-3; positive score ≥4). Majority of the respondents (86%) had an adequate knowledge about the disease in general and were optimistic about recovery from the disease. Gender had negligible impact on the average knowledge score, while the score differed significantly with education and occupation. In the absence of an available vaccine, 29.47% respondents considered prophylactic potential of homoeopathy.

Conclusions: Results reveal adequate knowledge and practices in the educated residents but below average mean attitude score. Public has welcomed the governmental initiative of homoeopathic prophylactic, and their belief in its therapeutic potential furthers the studies to determine its role as an adjuvant. Further extensive cross-sectional surveys to cover various strata of population are required to assess the widespread pattern of KAP in the general population.

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Author Biographies

Gyandas G. Wadhwani, Holistic Homoeopathic Clinic and Research Center, New Delhi. Former Chief Medical Officer (NFSG) (H), Directorate of AYUSH (Homoeopathic Wing), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Member of Aude Sapere groups, South Africa and Delhi,

Consultant Homoeopathic Physician and Independent Researcher; Former Chief Medical Officer (NFSG) (Hom), Directorate of Ayush (Homoeopathic Wing), Govt of NCT of Delhi; Member Aude Sapere groups South Africa and Delhi

Anupriya Chaudhary, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (Headquarters.), under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India

Research Officer (H) / Scientist -1

Member Aude Sapere group, Delhi

Aditi Chadha, Department of Pharmacovigilance, Dr. D. P. Rastogi Central Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Noida, under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India

Program Associate, Department of Pharmacovigilance; Member Aude Sapere group, Delhi

Lovepreet Kaur, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (Headquarters.), under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India

Senior Research Fellow; Member Aude Sapere group, Delhi

Khushbu Chaudhary, Department of Materia Medica. J. R. Kissan Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak, Haryana Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India

Associate Professor, Department of Materia Medica; Member Aude Sapere group, Delhi.

Varun Choudhary, Department of Organon. Bakson Homoeopathic Medical College, Greater Noida, UP. Member of Aude Sapere group, Delhi, India

Associate Professor, Department of Organon;  Member Aude Sapere group, Delhi.

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Published

2020-10-26

How to Cite

Wadhwani, G. G., Chaudhary, A., Chadha, A., Kaur, L., Chaudhary, K., & Choudhary, V. (2020). Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding COVID-19 and homoeopathy among the citizens of Delhi and national capital region, India: a cross-sectional online survey. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(11), 4504–4511. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20204752

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Original Research Articles