Knowledge & Attitude of Medical Students towards Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH)

Abstract

Introduction: Amalgamation of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha& Homeopathy) with allopathy medicine is a practicable solution for scarcity of health care providers in India. In this regard Government of India has recently mainstreamed AYUSH in rural area by in cooperating it in National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). But the scope of this incorporation will be subjective to the acceptance of AYUSH by allopathic practitioners. Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of allopathic health care professionals (undergraduates, postgraduates and interns) towards AYUSH system of medicine. Material and Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in medical students of a college in Karnataka, India. Questionnaire was used and data was analyzed using SPSS 16.ver. Results: Out of 131 medical students 49% were males and 51% were females. Only 49.6% of them could expand AYUSH completely and 61% knew that AYUSH was included under NRHM. Attitude of the allopathic practitioners was positive towards AYUSH. 72.5% of them welcomed the Government move of mainstreaming AYUSH in primary health care delivery under NHM in rural areas. Conclusion: Majority of the medical students had positive attitude towards AYUSH and welcome the step of government to include them in NHM.