PERCEPTION AND PRACTICE OF AYURVEDA AMONG USERS AND NON-USERS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

The present study has been designed to capture the current perception and practice of Ayurveda in its users and non-users. With objective of comparing the difference in its source of knowledge among both the groups, satisfaction level among who have already used it and identification of factors that promote or demote it. As this was questionnaire based cross section study, we develop questionnaire for it, after piloting we modified and validated it. This questionnaire was presented to common public via three ways, online portal, printed form and telephonic interview. Respondents for the study were selected after a pre-decided criterion. A total of 728 responses were selected for analysis out of which 376 (52%) were Ayurveda users and 352 (48%) were non-users, out of all participants 222 (30.4%) were females and rest 506 (69.5%) were males. Results also showed that while people of all age groups, both sex, all occupational and educational group uses Ayurveda, it appears that males and peoples older than 30 years of age prefer Ayurveda. Survey made clear that most of the users were more or less satisfied with effect of Ayurveda as they feel. While no statistical significant difference was found in source of knowledge between users and non-users, ignorance and unavailability of dependable Ayurvedic physicians appears to be the main demotivation for common public that prevent to use Ayurveda.Copyright © 2016-2017 IJRAP.