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Homeopathy 2004; 93(03): 125-131
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2004.04.001
Original paper
Copyright ©The Faculty of Homeopathy 2004

How do homeopaths make decisions? An exploratory study of inter-rater reliability and intuition in the decision making process

S Brien
1   Department of Primary Medical Care, Complementary Medicine Research Unit, Aldermoor Health Centre, University of Southampton, Aldermoor Close, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 5ST, UK;
,
P. Prescott
2   Department of Mathematics, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, Hants S017 1BJ, UK;
,
D. Owen
3   The Natural Practice, 106 Stockbridge Road, Winchester, Hants SO22 6RL, UK
,
G Lewith
1   Department of Primary Medical Care, Complementary Medicine Research Unit, Aldermoor Health Centre, University of Southampton, Aldermoor Close, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 5ST, UK;
› Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Received12 June 2003
revised11 February 2004

accepted26 April 2004

Publication Date:
19 December 2017 (online)

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Abstract

The validity of clinical decision making in homeopathy is largely unexplored and little is understood about the process or its reliability. This exploratory study investigated, in the context of a questionnaire based re-proving of Belladonna 30c, the extent to which decisions are based on clinical facts or intuition and how reliable decisions are. Three experienced, independent homeopathic clinicians/proving researchers rated the symptom diaries of the 206 subjects taking part. They reported their proving decision (ie positive proving response, no proving response or undecided) based on the total symptom profiles and rated (on a scale of 0–10) their use of clinical facts or intuition. Keynote symptoms and overall confidence scores were also reported. The level of agreement between raters was generally poor (weighted kappa 0.349–0.064). All raters used both facts and intuition. The rater's reliance on the facts was significantly associated with classifying those subjects who had no proving response [rater 1, P < 0.001; rater 2, P < 0.001]. Raters used significantly higher intuition scores when classifying a prover [rater 2, P = 0.001; rater 3, P = 0.012]. Issues regarding the education and practice of homeopathy are discussed.

Keywords

clinical decision making - intuition - inter-rater reliability - proving - Belladonna
 

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