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The gold standard to judge the popularity and usefulness of any scientific branch is associated with the ongoing research activities in that branch.
This is because active research indicates addition of new dimensions of applications, which in turn is a marker of liveliness, vibrancy and futuristic approach of the branch.
Research should be a process that converts data into information, information into knowledge and knowledge into wisdom.
This is like transforming milk into ghee. It should be more balanced, comprehensive, and equally emphasizing in the literary field, experimental and clinical research.
It should be able to impact the fields of academics, pharmacy and practice in a profound way.
Present day Ayurvedic researches are failing in this aspect as they are unable to disseminate the knowledge gained from the exercises.
Neither has the Ayurvedic teaching changed in the last 50 years nor have the textbooks been enriched with new researches.
Ayurveda is the science of life which encompasses in-depth medical theorems and principles which are evolved after close and constant experimentation and also best peer reviewed for many centuries in human subjects by expert Ayurveda scientists who were clinicians themselves.
Thus these scientifically validated and established theories and principles are the most reliable and pertinent evidence base to precisely guide and monitor Ayurvedic clinical practice and research
“Evidence Based Medicine” and “Medicine Based Evidence”
In Modern Medicine, an “unknown medicine” is validated by modern scientific techniques and multidisciplinary efforts resulting in the formulation of certain clinical evidences.
At the same time, the evidence base in Ayurveda does not involve the interference of non clinical persons like statisticians, epidemiologists or biochemists who possess no true knowledge of human life mechanisms
Ayurvedic evidences insist to illicit the true scientific rationale behind the effectiveness (not efficacy) of any therapy and “administer after knowing” their optimised use with respect to the medical situation. Thus it is originally the ‘Evidence Based Medicine”
Modern evidences are based on “testing” for drug efficacy (not effectiveness) in isolated tissues or animal models or by Double blind clinical trials and thus “knowing after administration”.
So Modern Medicine is “Medicine Based Evidence“where as Ayurveda is originally the “Evidence Based Medicine”
The strength of a Medical system is dependent on the clarity and objectivity of its fundamental science.
Unlike what the world blindly believes today, any Medical system does not need to be “Modern” for its scientific validation.
In fact, the modernity has no relation to the validity of a science
Unexplored “Science based standards”
Very few Ayurvedic doctors and researchers today would agree to the fact that the currently adopted Modern Medicine imitating protocols in Ayurvedic practise and research are vastly deviated from the original “science based evidence” recommended by Ayurveda
This happens owing to several misled notions created by the impaired teaching methodologies adopted in Ayurvedic medical colleges, seminars and workshops which is again because of poor understanding of the “science based evidence standards “and their judicious application by faculties, clinicians and researchers.
The currently adopted distorted practise of “This medicine- that disease “approach is hampering the physician and researcher to know how to choose a drug as he is only trained on what to choose.
It is high time for Ayurvedic community to know that their best evidence base is unavailable on electronic search engines (internet) which display confusing data, but best available in their own dusty book shelves which they hardly care to probe in.
The community must start acquiring knowledge by culturing their intellect by continuous learning, relentless pondering of “science based evidences “and their judicious execution.
1. Possibility of standardisation of treatment protocols with respect to the medical situations.
2. Evidence based guidelines will accurately optimise the diagnostic and therapeutic decisions of Ayurveda practitioners.
The revolutionary changes with such a revised approach
4. Abandon the unnecessary excessive expenses in treatment and indiscriminate exploitation of raw drugs.
5. On the target, fast and accurate therapeutic accomplishment (cure).
6. Simplification and clarification of the complexities and subtleness of Medicine.
7. The guidelines will accurately fit to the unique state and stage of a disease of the individual and thus provide the best individual patient care.
The scientific validation of any Medical system is ideally possible only by employing its own evidence based standards and techniques and never by any external means.
It is important to remember that research crux is palpable in the text all the time, indirectly.
The difference is today methodology of research and statistics has become a consequential separate scientific branch associated with each respective segment of knowledge.
Ample literature about how to conduct research with all aspect, is available in both text and digital form.
This type of generation of literature pertaining only to research methods and statistics is not evident in Ayurvedic texts.
Rather whatever is found scattered in Charaka Samhitaa the oldest document is not found with the same or more rigor in later Samhitaa_s like Sus`hruta Samhitaa and Asht`aanga Hridaya.
Therefore Charaka Samhitaa is the main reference source for this article. The current methodologies of research being applied in Ayurveda should be analyzed critically.
Predominantly, drug researches done in the field of Ayurveda in the last six decades have not enriched the Ayurvedic understanding or Ayurvedic concepts; however, these researches have created a better understanding of Ayurveda by the modern medical fraternity.
The researches done in the last 60 years on Herbal Pharmacology have led confirmation of few concepts like Reverse Pharmacology and use of whole crude drugs in place of isolation of fractions for clinical trials
These leads have changed the mindset of researchers on herbal medicine.
In the last decade, lot of interest has been generated in the medical world regarding Ayurveda and other traditional medicines.
However, all these efforts lead to the enrichment of the knowledge of the modern medicine and inclusion of some Ayurvedic herbs in modern Materia Medica.
Introduction to concept:
The quest for knowledge generates out of inquisitiveness, which ultimately leads to better understanding and explanation of various phenomena.
In all ancient sciences, the methods adapted to increase understanding or knowledge base, are mainly experiential, observational and inferential.
In the process of development of knowledge the perspective regarding a scientific concept or criteria of classification may change based on the logical interpretations and experimental evidences.
Ayurveda is no exception to the rule where the knowledge has developed according to the above-mentioned system prevalent in those areas. Thus in order to get an unbiased view of concepts of research in Ayurveda, it is a must to understand its background circumstances and situations.
Ayurveda was an oral tradition, which proliferated to the written tradition later on and currently it is being digitized to keep pace with time.
Technologically the propagation of knowledge has always been at par. Questions arise about the correct understanding and interpretation of the contents of the revered science with changing circumstances.
The education methodology earlier was teacher centered rather than learner centered
. Methods of exchange of knowledge or testing, presentation and spread of new knowledge were relevant to those days.
At times subjectivity used to take center stage on the practical level but the ultimate objective has always been to search and arrive at truth.
It is my strong view that the regime of EBM clinical trial with its evidence-based hierarchy is not fit for Ayurvedic clinical trials.
EBM clinical trial regimens limit the use of Prakriti, Dosha Anubandha-Anubandhyatwa, Arambhaka and Anugami Dosha Vikalpa, Swanidana Prakopa, Awaranajanya Prakopa, Prakriti SamaSamveta-Vikritishamasamveta, Amavashtha-pakvavastha, which leads to variation of dose, dosage form, Aushadhikala, Anupana, Sahapana, Pathyapathya, therapeutics like Panchakarma procedures to be adopted, etc.
. Hence, if the desired results of actual clinical practices are to be recorded, the protocols should be prepared on these lines, supported by EBM suitable for the purpose.
Ayurveda requires research in the areas of diagnostic principles of Ayurveda so that the Ayurvedic diagnosis can be made more pinpointed leading to more effective treatment strategies.
Ayurveda is a pure science based on strict logical explanation, which is called Darshana.
Ayurveda was always in the developmental phase like all the medical systems should be. In the last 2000 years, very less conceptual development in Ayurveda is evident.
However, whatever has been added is less explained or obscure. Due to socio-political reasons, annotation (Pratisamskara) of Ayurvedic samhitas could not be done in the last 2000 years, which is mandatory every 1000 years.
This means that the present samhitas are lagging behind to present the knowledge.
Many of the diagnostic tools have been missed in between and new principles added like Avarana are unexplained.
. Acceptance and application of the new concepts like the quantum theory, relativity principle or atomic structure in pure sciences provided a foundation for the development of experimental research techniques.
True experiments were thus possible in all settings.
Here the difference in current and ancient science becomes starkly cognizable. Modern science started becoming more reductionist trying to put one to one co-relation as against the traditions holistic approach of addressing complexity in one go.
On the other hand the majority of the scientists from the traditional sciences did not take serious cognizance of the challenge posed by new or changed fundamentals and in turn did not make use of the new knowledge to interpret or contemporarize the heritage they carried.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:Modern Concepts
Dr B RAJEEV
“Search of knowledge” “It is a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on specific topic”
According to Oxford Dictionary (1952, p1069), “A careful inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge”
According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solution; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusion; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
INTRODUCTION
To gain familiarity with a phenomenonTo portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group
To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else
To identify the casual relationship between variables
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits
Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems
Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work
Desire to be of service to societyDesire to get respectability
MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
Data: Measurement of records of facts made under specific conditions
Hypothesis: tentative assumption of the study or expected results of the study
Independent variable: The part of the experiment that the researcher is manipulating; also called experimental or treatment variable.
SOME TERMINOLOGIES
Dependent variable: The effect of the Independent variable
Population: A total number of subjects which they abide the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Paradigm crisis phenomenon: development of discrepancies leading to proposals of new paradigm that better explain the data.
SOME TERMINOLOGIES
Review: A research paper that is a critical evaluation of research on a particular topic.
Research proposal / Synopsis: A formal preparation that includes introduction, review of literature and proposed method of conducting study.
SOME TERMINOLOGIES
1. Descriptive research 2. Analytical research3. Applied research 4. Basic research5. Quantitative research6. Qualitative research7. Conceptual research
TYPES OF RESEARCH
Surveys & fact finding enquiries of different kinds
Purpose is description of the state of affairs as it exists at present.
Researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report what has happened or what is happening.
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
Survey researchThe case studyJob analysisObservational researchCorrelation studyComparative study Epidemiological research SUBIVISIONS OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
Involves in-debth study and evaluation of available information in an attempt to explain complex phenomenon.
The researcher has to use facts or information already available and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the material.
ANALYTICAL RESEARCH
Historical researchPhilosophical researchReview Research synthesis ( meta analysis i.e. analysis the review that already published)
SUBDIVISIONS OF ANALYTICAL RESEARCH
TenacityIntuitionAuthority The Rationalistic methodThe Empirical method
UNSCIENTIFIC METHODS OF PROBLEM SOLVING
Sometime cling to certain beliefs despite lack of supporting evidence
Superstitions are good examples of this method called tenacity.
Coaches and athletes wearing same dress
Black cat brought bad luck
TENACITY
Intuitive knowledge is sometimes considered to be common sense or self evident
Factual evidenceSelf evident truth sometime may found to be false
INTUITION
Reference to some authority has long been used as a source of knowledge.
Galileo’s telescopePtolemy’s explanation about world and heaven
AUTHORITY
Derive knowledge through reasoning ◦Basket ball players are tall.◦Tony is a basket ball player◦Therefore, tony is tall
THE RATIONALISTIC METHOD
Describes data or a study that is based on objective observation
Gathering data is scientific method but here experience plays major role.
THE EMPIRICAL METHOD
Formulating research problemReview of literatureDeveloping hypothesisPreparing research and sample designCollecting dataExecution of projectAnalysis of dataHypothesis testingDiscussionPreparation of report or thesis
SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF PROBLEM SOLVING / RESEARCH PROCESS
Problems are divided two types◦Problems which relate to state of nature◦Those which relate correlation between variables
•Subject of interest to be selected as a problem
•Always select unsolved problem•Initially, may propose in Broadway and ambiguities may resolved
•Feasibility
FORMULATING RESEARCH PROBLEM
Understanding the problem thoroughly
Rephrasing the same into meaningful term
Discuss the problems with colleagues
Staff members and guideTake a view of old reviewsThe final question should be precise and grammatically correct and should state exactly what you expect to learn as a result of a study.
FORMULATING RESEARCH PROBLEM
JournalsReferences Reports BooksLibrary is good friendInternet and websites
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
It should be very specific and limited to the piece of research in hand because it has to be tested.
The role of hypothesis is to guide the researcher by delimiting the area of research and to keep him on the right track.
DEVELOPING HYPOTHESIS
Discussion with colleagues and experts about the problem, its origin and the objectives in seeking solution
Examinations of data and recordsReview of similar studies in the area or of the studies on similar problems
Personal investigation which involves original field interviews.
DEVELOPING HYPOTHESIS
State the conceptual structure within which research would be conducted
Type of research designExperimental , quasi experimental and non experimental
Setting of the studyPopulationCriteria for selectionVariables Sample selection
PREPARING RESEARCH AND SAMPLE DESIGN
)
Several ways are there to collect the appropriate data
Primary data and secondary dataBy observationPersonal interviewTelephone interviewQuestionnaires Survey
COLLECTING DATA
It is a very important step in research process
If it is proceeds on correct lines, the data to be collected would be adequate and dependable.
The step should be taken that the data should be in the control of statistics so that the collected information is in accordance with the pre defined designed to tackle this problem
EXECUTION OF PROJECT
The analysis of data requires a number of closely related operations such as establishment of categories, the application of theses categories to raw data through tabulation, coding and editing like statistical interference.
ANALYSIS OF DATA
Coding: this operation is usually done at this stage through which the categories of data are transformed into symbols that may be tabulated and counted.
Editing: it is the procedure that improves the quality of the data for coding
Tabulation: It is a part of the technical procedure wherein the classified data are put in the form of tables.
ANALYSIS OF DATA
After analyzing the data, the researcher is in position to test the hypothesis.
Inference Student ‘t’ test, Chi-square, F- test are the examples of statistical techniques
At end, researcher have reject or not reject the null hypothesis.
HYPOTHESIS TESTING
Chapter or section of a research report that explains what the results mean.
Its very important section to add the appropriate supportive literatures.
DISCUSSION
The layout of the report should be as follows.◦Preliminary pages◦The main text◦The end matter
PREPARATION OF REPORT OR THESIS
The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and common concepts be used
The research procedure used should be described in sufficient detail to permit another researcher to repeat the research for further advancement, keeping the continuity of what has already been attained.
The procedure design of the research should be carefully planned to yield results that tare as objectives as possible
CRITERIA FOR GOOD RESEARCH
The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in procedural design and estimate their effects upon the findings.
The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance and the method of analysis used should be appropriate. The validity and reliability of the data should be checked carefully.
CRITERIA FOR GOOD RESEARCH
Conclusions should be confined to those justified by the data of the research and limited to those for which the data provide an adequate basis.
Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcher is experienced, has a good reputation in research and is a person of integrity.
CRITERIA FOR GOOD RESEARCH
The lack of a scientific training in the methodology of research
There is insufficient interaction between university and the companies
Confidentiality Research studies overlapping one another are undertaken quire often for want of adequate information
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY RESEARCHERS IN INDIA
Does not exist a code of conductImproper library management and functioning
Improper delivery of government orders, reports and etc.,
Time availability improperFunding source
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY RESEARCHERS IN INDIA
Health care professionals unable to prove that they prevent disease, improve health or restore function will not be reimbursed for their service
Ayurveda cannot justify its existence on the basis of what it does for patients, it will cease to be a profession in all too short time.
SURVIVAL & GROWTH THROUGH RESEARCH
Instead of viewing increased accountability as a problem or threat, we must view it as an opportunity to document the positive contributions Ayurveda makes to the public it serves.
The bridge between what Ayurveda Physicians believe they contribute to improving patient function and the documentation of those improvements is clinical research.
SURVIVAL & GROWTH THROUGH RESEARCH
