Use and Perceived Benefit of Alternative Treatments by Patients with Pain due to Different Health Problems

Abstract

Almost every health problem in the world can be removed from the body with the help of Ayurvedic treatments. No data regarding the use of homoeopathic treatment and ayurvedic treatment among population suffering from pain (musculoskeletal pain due to arthritis, joint pain, backache, bodyache) are available in India. Therefore, a descriptive survey design was opted to assess most frequent use, reasons for using and perceived benefit of the selected Alternative Therapies by Patients with pain due to different health related problems. Purposive sampling was used to select 100 Patients. The tool was used to collect data was (1) Self structured Checklist for type of Alternative Therapies and the reason for use (2) Rating scale to find out perceived benefits of Alternative Therapy. Result of the study regarding the reason for using Ayurvedic treatment 30% of patients were using for musculoskeletal pain, and 16% of patients using homeopathic for same reason, among ayurvedic maximum 20% used due to their own interest whereas among homeopathic maximum 32% uses treatment due to others influence, and the perceived benefit of ayurvedic medicine and homeopathic medicine seen in reducing severe pain respectively in 45% and in 30% patients, the level of activity was improved among 40% patients under ayurvedic and 35% among patients under homeopathic treatment, but the medium expenditure of ayurvedic medicine in 26% patients and in homeopathic medium expenditure was seen in 16% patients.