Download PDF
Homeopathy
DOI: 10.1055/a-2675-1565
Original Research Article

The Status of Knowledge, Awareness, Attitude and Practical Activity in Research among Homeopathy Interns in India

Authors

  • Pooja Gautam 

    1   Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), New Delhi, India

  • Amulya Ratna Sahoo

    1   Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), New Delhi, India
    2   Regional Research Institute (Homoeopathy), Guwahati, Assam, India

  • Meetu Goel

    1   Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), New Delhi, India
    3   Dr. D.P. Rastogi Central Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Background

Despite homeopathy being the most prevalent complementary health care system in India, little has been known about the appreciation or aptitude for research among its over 17,000 interns across the country.

Aims

The current study was conducted by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) in association with the National Commission for Homoeopathy to evaluate the status of knowledge, awareness, attitude and practical activity in research, as well as perceived barriers to conducting research, among homeopathy interns in India.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was performed for a period of 1 month from mid-December 2023 to mid-January 2024 among the interns of the nation's 261 homeopathy medical institutes. The questionnaire was developed based on similar earlier studies on graduates in medicine. Responses from 2,381 interns were analyzed.

Results

The sample demographic consisted mostly of the 21-25 years age group (92%), females (71%), private institutions (84%) and located in urban areas (43%). The largest numbers of respondents were from the states of Maharashtra (28%), Gujarat (17%) and Tamil Nadu (13%). There was some regional variation in Knowledge & Awareness scores, but no significant difference was seen across age groups, gender, type of institute or locality of institute. More than half (56%) of the interns strongly disagreed with a requirement for research in homeopathy. Nearly half of the interns believed that research promotes critical thinking and recognized that research can be a good career option. Only a small number of interns had regularly participated in the CCRH's Short-Term Studentship in Homeopathy program. Many interns at least sometimes attended research workshops/seminars or participated as the subjects of research. Lack of familiarity with the necessary skills was identified as the chief barrier toward research participation.

Conclusion

The study revealed interns' good awareness, moderate knowledge of research principles and a diverse attitude to homeopathy that included a negative majority view of the need for research. Improving the quality and the importance of research-related education for interns in homeopathy, together with schooling in relevant research methods and skills, can be addressed with tailored interventions by India's education and research authorities.

Keywords

attitude - awareness - homeopathy - interns - knowledge - research practice

Author Contributions

PG contributed to the definition of intellectual content, the literature search, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing and manuscript review. ARS contributed to the literature search, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing and manuscript review. MG contributed to manuscript editing and manuscript review. All three authors act as guarantors of the work.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 02 December 2024

Accepted: 01 August 2025

Article published online:
04 December 2025

© 2025. Faculty of Homeopathy. This article is published by Thieme.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany