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

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.