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Exploring Healthcare Preferences: A Comparative Analysis of Attitude and Belief towards Existing Medical Practices in and around West Bengal, India

SHOUVIK DAS, SRINJOY CHATTERJEE, SREYASHI DAS AND TAPASH RUDRA
Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Kolkata-700 135 (West Bengal), India
*(e-mail: trudra@kol.amity.edu; Mobile: 82740 44968)
(Received: January 2, 2024; Accepted: February 27, 2024)

ABSTRACT

Over the past few decades, the field of medicine has faced unprecedented challenges with the proliferation of diseases that go beyond age, gender, and economic boundaries. The survey revealed that allopathy remained the most preferred medical system, favoured by 73.2% of participants. Homoeopathy, with its holistic approach, garnering substantial trust, was chosen by 17.2% of respondents. Ayurvedic medicine, while less favoured, still held a presence at 2.5% of participants. These preferences reflected a diversity of healthcare choices in West Bengal and the adjoining areas. The study underscored the importance of medicine availability in shaping individual choices. Additionally, the survey highlighted a perception of allopathic medicines as expensive and potentially influencing healthcare decisions. Twenty-one per cent of the respondents agreed that their changing patterns of lifestyle influenced their choice of medicine, 28% portrayed a neutral attitude towards their choice of medicine, and 14.6% did not perceive a strong connection between lifestyle choices and medical decisions. This work contributed to a deeper understanding of healthcare preferences and their determinants, offering valuable insights into the complex dynamics of medical choices in a diverse and dynamic society.
Key words: Allopathy, homoeopathy, ayurveda, healthcare, medicine