Obstetrics and gynecology outpatient scenario of an Indian homeopathic hospital: A prospective, research-targeted study

10.1016/j.jtcme.2015.01.003

Subhranil Saha；Munmun Koley；Sangita Saha；Rakesh Singh；Md. Monowar Hossain；Indrani Pramanik

homeopathy ； India ； obstetrics and gynecology ； patient-reported outcomes ； systematic data collection

Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

6卷2期（2016 / 04 / 01）

168 - 171

英文

The authors aimed to document prescriptions and clinical outcomes in routine homeopathic practice to short list promising areas of targeted research and efficacy trials of homeopathy in obstetrics and gynecology (O&G). Three homeopathic physicians participated in methodical data collection over a 3-month period in the O&G outpatient setting of The Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India. A specifically designed Excel spreadsheet was used to record data on consecutive appointments, including date, patient identity, socioeconomic status, place of abode, religion, medical condition/complaint, whether chronic/acute, new/follow-up case, patient-assessed outcome (7-point Likert scale: -3 to +3), prescribed homeopathic medication, and whether other medication/s was being taken for the condition. These spreadsheets were submitted monthly for data synthesis and analysis. Data on 878 appointments (429 patients) were collected, of which 61% were positive, 20.8% negative, and 18.2% showed no change. Chronic conditions (93.2%) were chiefly encountered. A total of 434 medical conditions and 52 varieties were reported overall. The most frequently treated conditions were leucorrhea (20.5%), irregular menses (13.3%), dysmenorrhea (10%), menorrhagia (7.5%), and hypomenorrhea (6.3%). Strongly positive outcomes (+3/+2) were mostly recorded in oligomenorrhea (41.7%), leucorrhea (34.1%), polycystic ovary (33.3%), dysmenorrhea (28%), and irregular menses (22.2%). Individualized prescriptions predominated (95.6%). A total of 122 different medicines were prescribed in decimal (2.9%), centesimal (87.9%), and 50 millesimal potencies (4.9%). Mother tinctures and placebo were prescribed in 3.4% and 30.4% instances, respectively. Several instances of medicine-condition pairings were detected. This systematic recording cataloged the frequency and success rate of treating O&G conditions using homeopathy.

1. Koley, M,Saha, S,Ghosh, S(2014).A validation study of homeopathic prescribing and patient care indicators.J Tradit Complement Med,4,289-292.
   連結：
2. The CORE-Hom database: a database on Clinical Outcome REsearch in Homeopathy; Karl and Veronica Carstens-Stiftung and the Homeopathy Research Institute. Available from: http://www.carstens-stiftung.de/core-hom/index.php [accessed on 13.11.14]..http://www.carstens-stiftung.de/core-hom/index.php
3. Clover, A(2000).Patient benefit survey: Tunbridge Wells Homoeopathic Hospital.Br Homeopath J,89,68-72.
4. Downey, P(1996).Audit of prescribing style and outcomes in general practice.Br Homeopath J.,85,71-74.
5. Farrer, S,Baitson, ES,Gedah, L,Norman, C,Darby, P,Mathie, RT(2013).Homeopathic prescribing for chronic and acute periodontal conditions in 3 dental practices in the UK.Homeopathy,102,242-247.
6. Ghosh, S,Panja, S,Ghosh, TN(2014).Dental practice scenario in a government homeopathic hospital in West Bengal, India.J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med,19,200-204.
7. Güthlin, C,Lange, O,Walach, H.(2004).Measuring the effects of acupuncture and homoeopathy in general practice: an uncontrolled prospective documentation approach.BMC Public Health,4,6.
8. Koley, M,Saha, S,Arya, JS(2013).A study on drug utilization and prescription habits of physicians in a government homeopathic hospital in West Bengal, India.India J Integr Med,11,305-313.
9. Mathie, RT(2003).Clinical outcomes research: contributions to the evidence base for homeopathy.Homeopathy,92,56-57.
10. Mathie, RT,Farrer, S(2007).Outcomes from homeopathic prescribing in dental practice: a prospective, research-targeted, pilot study.Homeopathy,96,74-81.
11. Mathie, RT,Robinson, TW(2006).Outcomes from homeopathic prescribing in medical practice: a prospective, research-targeted, pilot study.Homeopathy,95,199-205.
12. Richardson, WR(2001).Patient benefit survey: Liverpool Regional Department of Homoeopathic Medicine.Br Homeopath J.,90,158-162.
13. Robinson, T(2006).Responses to homeopathic treatment in National Health Service general practice.Homeopathy,95,9-14.
14. Saha, S,Koley, M,Ghosh, S,Giri, M,Das, A,Goenka, R(2015).Documentation of prescriptions and clinical outcomes in a homeopathic hospital setting in West Bengal, India.J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med,pii: 2156587214568459.
15. Spence, DS,Thompson, EA,Barron, SJ(2005).Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: a 6-year, university-hospital outpatient observational study.J Altern Complement Med,11,793-798.