Ayurveda Practitioner Adaptation of Variation in Service Approaches during COVID-19 Pandemic in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 declared global pandemic created various impact on different aspects of life, medical fraternity and economy worldwide. With its ever changing viral features, COVID-19 then had become a real hard time challenge to the world medical fraternity in finding out the appropriate measures to control it. The whole world adopted various measures to control its spread, preventive measures against COVID-19 proved to be an effective measure to content it. Health care systems were challenged as they were potential hub for contracting COVID-19 and at the same time overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. Health practitioners had to follow safety guidelines in order to prevent the spread, protect themselves and at the same time provide the health service to the people. The objective of the study was to identify various methodological variations adopted by Ayurveda practitioners to provide Ayurveda services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The research method adopted was a quantitative, descriptive cross sectional study. A well- developed online questionnaire was formed and circulated through Whats app, messengers and email among Ayurveda practitioners of Ayurveda Campus Teaching Hospital, Nardevi Ayurveda Hospital and National Ayurveda Research and Training Center Kirtipur. Results and Discussion: Implementation of safety protocols, adoption of sanitization methods and procedural modification in consultation and OPD based services were practiced by Ayurveda practitioners during COVID-19 in order to deliver Ayurveda Health Service. Conclusion: The continuity of OPD based services were maintained considering safety protocols, sterilization methods and modifications in delivering consultations and OPD procedures.