Knowledge, attitude and practices of ayurvedic medicine practitioners in Kerala towards millets and millet-based diet: a prospective cross-sectional online survey study.

INTRODUCTION

Diet and lifestyle play pivotal roles in Ayurveda's preventive and therapeutic principles. The rich culinary heritage of Kerala harmoniously aligns with Ayurvedic dietetic principles. With the recent designation of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, there has been a surge of interest in integrating millets into dietary practices worldwide. Ayurveda physicians are poised to offer nutritional guidance to endorse health.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 26 July to 9 August 2023 among Ayurveda practitioners in Kerala. The survey used a semi-structured questionnaire finalised through the face and content validity, comprising eight items each for knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) domains. A target sample size of 422 participants was determined through convenience sampling methodology. Spearman's rank correlation test was used to examine the correlations between KAP while binary logistic regression analyses were employed to identify determinants associated with favourable levels of KAP among participants.

RESULTS

A total of 386 complete responses were used for analysis. The average scores for KAP items were 5.21, 6.36 and 5.34, respectively, (range 0-8). It was found that better Knowledge scores were associated with more favourable Attitudes towards the prescription of millet-based diet (MBD) (adjusted Odd's Ratio (AOR): 3.04) and even more positive responses towards Practice (AOR: 8.59).

CONCLUSION

The knowledge of Ayurveda practitioners in Kerala regarding the use of MBD is satisfactory. There is a significant relationship between Knowledge and Attitude as well as Practice. This study has underscored the importance of education and awareness in shaping favourable attitudes and practices related to MBD, aligning with Ayurvedic principles. Despite practitioners demonstrating good KAP behaviour towards MBD, gaps persist in certain aspects of contemporary knowledge and limitations in translating knowledge into practice. Addressing these gaps and barriers is essential to promote the widespread adoption and prescription of MBD.