Abstract:
Background and Aim: Students in homoeopathic colleges are often encouraged
to participate in drug proving programs. There is no valid and reliable instrument for
identifying their concerns. Therefore, an instrument has been designed and tested to
identify knowledge, attitude, practice, and beliefs (KAPB) of homoeopathic students.
This can be used for motivating students to participate in drug proving programs.
Design and Methods: First, the questionnaire items were identified by a telephonic
interview with investigators of drug proving program. The questionnaire was pilot tested
on interns of a homoeopathic college to identify its internal consistency, test-retest
reliability, and face and construct validity. A survey using this instrument followed by
training of homoeopathic medical students was conducted, and the change in KAPB
was also assessed.
Results: A questionnaire of 28 questions testing knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and
practices was developed with Cronbach’s α =0.71 for the entire scale. Students were of
the opinion that with participation in proving studies, homoeopathic Materia Medica will
develop, which will be their contribution to Homoeopathy. Students will be personally
benefitted by having an experiential knowledge rather than theoretical knowledge
of philosophy. Although the majority is aware that proving does not cause long-term
damage to health, nor does it cause irreversible pathological change, a major concern
is the development of severe or unmanageable symptoms. Students can be motivated
to participate in proving programs by re-enforcing that it will be a unique experience,
assuring them about that no acute unmanageable symptoms are likely to develop.
