Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, ISSN - 0973 - 709X

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Dr Mohan Z Mani

"Thank you very much for having published my article in record time.I would like to compliment you and your entire staff for your promptness, courtesy, and willingness to be customer friendly, which is quite unusual.I was given your reference by a colleague in pathology,and was able to directly phone your editorial office for clarifications.I would particularly like to thank the publication managers and the Assistant Editor who were following up my article. I would also like to thank you for adjusting the money I paid initially into payment for my modified article,and refunding the balance.
I wish all success to your journal and look forward to sending you any suitable similar article in future"



Dr Mohan Z Mani,
Professor & Head,
Department of Dermatolgy,
Believers Church Medical College,
Thiruvalla, Kerala
On Sep 2018




Prof. Somashekhar Nimbalkar

"Over the last few years, we have published our research regularly in Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. Having published in more than 20 high impact journals over the last five years including several high impact ones and reviewing articles for even more journals across my fields of interest, we value our published work in JCDR for their high standards in publishing scientific articles. The ease of submission, the rapid reviews in under a month, the high quality of their reviewers and keen attention to the final process of proofs and publication, ensure that there are no mistakes in the final article. We have been asked clarifications on several occasions and have been happy to provide them and it exemplifies the commitment to quality of the team at JCDR."



Prof. Somashekhar Nimbalkar
Head, Department of Pediatrics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad
Chairman, Research Group, Charutar Arogya Mandal, Karamsad
National Joint Coordinator - Advanced IAP NNF NRP Program
Ex-Member, Governing Body, National Neonatology Forum, New Delhi
Ex-President - National Neonatology Forum Gujarat State Chapter
Department of Pediatrics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat.
On Sep 2018




Dr. Kalyani R

"Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research is at present a well-known Indian originated scientific journal which started with a humble beginning. I have been associated with this journal since many years. I appreciate the Editor, Dr. Hemant Jain, for his constant effort in bringing up this journal to the present status right from the scratch. The journal is multidisciplinary. It encourages in publishing the scientific articles from postgraduates and also the beginners who start their career. At the same time the journal also caters for the high quality articles from specialty and super-specialty researchers. Hence it provides a platform for the scientist and researchers to publish. The other aspect of it is, the readers get the information regarding the most recent developments in science which can be used for teaching, research, treating patients and to some extent take preventive measures against certain diseases. The journal is contributing immensely to the society at national and international level."



Dr Kalyani R
Professor and Head
Department of Pathology
Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College
Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research , Kolar, Karnataka
On Sep 2018




Dr. Saumya Navit

"As a peer-reviewed journal, the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research provides an opportunity to researchers, scientists and budding professionals to explore the developments in the field of medicine and dentistry and their varied specialities, thus extending our view on biological diversities of living species in relation to medicine.
‘Knowledge is treasure of a wise man.’ The free access of this journal provides an immense scope of learning for the both the old and the young in field of medicine and dentistry as well. The multidisciplinary nature of the journal makes it a better platform to absorb all that is being researched and developed. The publication process is systematic and professional. Online submission, publication and peer reviewing makes it a user-friendly journal.
As an experienced dentist and an academician, I proudly recommend this journal to the dental fraternity as a good quality open access platform for rapid communication of their cutting-edge research progress and discovery.
I wish JCDR a great success and I hope that journal will soar higher with the passing time."



Dr Saumya Navit
Professor and Head
Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Saraswati Dental College
Lucknow
On Sep 2018




Dr. Arunava Biswas

"My sincere attachment with JCDR as an author as well as reviewer is a learning experience . Their systematic approach in publication of article in various categories is really praiseworthy.
Their prompt and timely response to review's query and the manner in which they have set the reviewing process helps in extracting the best possible scientific writings for publication.
It's a honour and pride to be a part of the JCDR team. My very best wishes to JCDR and hope it will sparkle up above the sky as a high indexed journal in near future."



Dr. Arunava Biswas
MD, DM (Clinical Pharmacology)
Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital , Kolkata




Dr. C.S. Ramesh Babu
" Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR) is a multi-specialty medical and dental journal publishing high quality research articles in almost all branches of medicine. The quality of printing of figures and tables is excellent and comparable to any International journal. An added advantage is nominal publication charges and monthly issue of the journal and more chances of an article being accepted for publication. Moreover being a multi-specialty journal an article concerning a particular specialty has a wider reach of readers of other related specialties also. As an author and reviewer for several years I find this Journal most suitable and highly recommend this Journal."
Best regards,
C.S. Ramesh Babu,
Associate Professor of Anatomy,
Muzaffarnagar Medical College,
Muzaffarnagar.
On Aug 2018




Dr. Arundhathi. S
"Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR) is a reputed peer reviewed journal and is constantly involved in publishing high quality research articles related to medicine. Its been a great pleasure to be associated with this esteemed journal as a reviewer and as an author for a couple of years. The editorial board consists of many dedicated and reputed experts as its members and they are doing an appreciable work in guiding budding researchers. JCDR is doing a commendable job in scientific research by promoting excellent quality research & review articles and case reports & series. The reviewers provide appropriate suggestions that improve the quality of articles. I strongly recommend my fraternity to encourage JCDR by contributing their valuable research work in this widely accepted, user friendly journal. I hope my collaboration with JCDR will continue for a long time".



Dr. Arundhathi. S
MBBS, MD (Pathology),
Sanjay Gandhi institute of trauma and orthopedics,
Bengaluru.
On Aug 2018




Dr. Mamta Gupta,
"It gives me great pleasure to be associated with JCDR, since last 2-3 years. Since then I have authored, co-authored and reviewed about 25 articles in JCDR. I thank JCDR for giving me an opportunity to improve my own skills as an author and a reviewer.
It 's a multispecialty journal, publishing high quality articles. It gives a platform to the authors to publish their research work which can be available for everyone across the globe to read. The best thing about JCDR is that the full articles of all medical specialties are available as pdf/html for reading free of cost or without institutional subscription, which is not there for other journals. For those who have problem in writing manuscript or do statistical work, JCDR comes for their rescue.
The journal has a monthly publication and the articles are published quite fast. In time compared to other journals. The on-line first publication is also a great advantage and facility to review one's own articles before going to print. The response to any query and permission if required, is quite fast; this is quite commendable. I have a very good experience about seeking quick permission for quoting a photograph (Fig.) from a JCDR article for my chapter authored in an E book. I never thought it would be so easy. No hassles.
Reviewing articles is no less a pain staking process and requires in depth perception, knowledge about the topic for review. It requires time and concentration, yet I enjoy doing it. The JCDR website especially for the reviewers is quite user friendly. My suggestions for improving the journal is, more strict review process, so that only high quality articles are published. I find a a good number of articles in Obst. Gynae, hence, a new journal for this specialty titled JCDR-OG can be started. May be a bimonthly or quarterly publication to begin with. Only selected articles should find a place in it.
An yearly reward for the best article authored can also incentivize the authors. Though the process of finding the best article will be not be very easy. I do not know how reviewing process can be improved. If an article is being reviewed by two reviewers, then opinion of one can be communicated to the other or the final opinion of the editor can be communicated to the reviewer if requested for. This will help one’s reviewing skills.
My best wishes to Dr. Hemant Jain and all the editorial staff of JCDR for their untiring efforts to bring out this journal. I strongly recommend medical fraternity to publish their valuable research work in this esteemed journal, JCDR".



Dr. Mamta Gupta
Consultant
(Ex HOD Obs &Gynae, Hindu Rao Hospital and associated NDMC Medical College, Delhi)
Aug 2018




Dr. Rajendra Kumar Ghritlaharey

"I wish to thank Dr. Hemant Jain, Editor-in-Chief Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR), for asking me to write up few words.
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium i e; into the words and sentences on paper. Quality medical manuscript writing in particular, demands not only a high-quality research, but also requires accurate and concise communication of findings and conclusions, with adherence to particular journal guidelines. In medical field whether working in teaching, private, or in corporate institution, everyone wants to excel in his / her own field and get recognised by making manuscripts publication.


Authors are the souls of any journal, and deserve much respect. To publish a journal manuscripts are needed from authors. Authors have a great responsibility for producing facts of their work in terms of number and results truthfully and an individual honesty is expected from authors in this regards. Both ways its true "No authors-No manuscripts-No journals" and "No journals–No manuscripts–No authors". Reviewing a manuscript is also a very responsible and important task of any peer-reviewed journal and to be taken seriously. It needs knowledge on the subject, sincerity, honesty and determination. Although the process of reviewing a manuscript is a time consuming task butit is expected to give one's best remarks within the time frame of the journal.
Salient features of the JCDR: It is a biomedical, multidisciplinary (including all medical and dental specialities), e-journal, with wide scope and extensive author support. At the same time, a free text of manuscript is available in HTML and PDF format. There is fast growing authorship and readership with JCDR as this can be judged by the number of articles published in it i e; in Feb 2007 of its first issue, it contained 5 articles only, and now in its recent volume published in April 2011, it contained 67 manuscripts. This e-journal is fulfilling the commitments and objectives sincerely, (as stated by Editor-in-chief in his preface to first edition) i e; to encourage physicians through the internet, especially from the developing countries who witness a spectrum of disease and acquire a wealth of knowledge to publish their experiences to benefit the medical community in patients care. I also feel that many of us have work of substance, newer ideas, adequate clinical materials but poor in medical writing and hesitation to submit the work and need help. JCDR provides authors help in this regards.
Timely publication of journal: Publication of manuscripts and bringing out the issue in time is one of the positive aspects of JCDR and is possible with strong support team in terms of peer reviewers, proof reading, language check, computer operators, etc. This is one of the great reasons for authors to submit their work with JCDR. Another best part of JCDR is "Online first Publications" facilities available for the authors. This facility not only provides the prompt publications of the manuscripts but at the same time also early availability of the manuscripts for the readers.
Indexation and online availability: Indexation transforms the journal in some sense from its local ownership to the worldwide professional community and to the public.JCDR is indexed with Embase & EMbiology, Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, Chemical Abstracts Service, Journal seek Database, Indian Science Abstracts, to name few of them. Manuscriptspublished in JCDR are available on major search engines ie; google, yahoo, msn.
In the era of fast growing newer technologies, and in computer and internet friendly environment the manuscripts preparation, submission, review, revision, etc and all can be done and checked with a click from all corer of the world, at any time. Of course there is always a scope for improvement in every field and none is perfect. To progress, one needs to identify the areas of one's weakness and to strengthen them.
It is well said that "happy beginning is half done" and it fits perfectly with JCDR. It has grown considerably and I feel it has already grown up from its infancy to adolescence, achieving the status of standard online e-journal form Indian continent since its inception in Feb 2007. This had been made possible due to the efforts and the hard work put in it. The way the JCDR is improving with every new volume, with good quality original manuscripts, makes it a quality journal for readers. I must thank and congratulate Dr Hemant Jain, Editor-in-Chief JCDR and his team for their sincere efforts, dedication, and determination for making JCDR a fast growing journal.
Every one of us: authors, reviewers, editors, and publisher are responsible for enhancing the stature of the journal. I wish for a great success for JCDR."



Thanking you
With sincere regards
Dr. Rajendra Kumar Ghritlaharey, M.S., M. Ch., FAIS
Associate Professor,
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Gandhi Medical College & Associated
Kamla Nehru & Hamidia Hospitals Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 001 (India)
E-mail: drrajendrak1@rediffmail.com
On May 11,2011




Dr. Shankar P.R.

"On looking back through my Gmail archives after being requested by the journal to write a short editorial about my experiences of publishing with the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR), I came across an e-mail from Dr. Hemant Jain, Editor, in March 2007, which introduced the new electronic journal. The main features of the journal which were outlined in the e-mail were extensive author support, cash rewards, the peer review process, and other salient features of the journal.
Over a span of over four years, we (I and my colleagues) have published around 25 articles in the journal. In this editorial, I plan to briefly discuss my experiences of publishing with JCDR and the strengths of the journal and to finally address the areas for improvement.
My experiences of publishing with JCDR: Overall, my experiences of publishing withJCDR have been positive. The best point about the journal is that it responds to queries from the author. This may seem to be simple and not too much to ask for, but unfortunately, many journals in the subcontinent and from many developing countries do not respond or they respond with a long delay to the queries from the authors 1. The reasons could be many, including lack of optimal secretarial and other support. Another problem with many journals is the slowness of the review process. Editorial processing and peer review can take anywhere between a year to two years with some journals. Also, some journals do not keep the contributors informed about the progress of the review process. Due to the long review process, the articles can lose their relevance and topicality. A major benefit with JCDR is the timeliness and promptness of its response. In Dr Jain's e-mail which was sent to me in 2007, before the introduction of the Pre-publishing system, he had stated that he had received my submission and that he would get back to me within seven days and he did!
Most of the manuscripts are published within 3 to 4 months of their submission if they are found to be suitable after the review process. JCDR is published bimonthly and the accepted articles were usually published in the next issue. Recently, due to the increased volume of the submissions, the review process has become slower and it ?? Section can take from 4 to 6 months for the articles to be reviewed. The journal has an extensive author support system and it has recently introduced a paid expedited review process. The journal also mentions the average time for processing the manuscript under different submission systems - regular submission and expedited review.
Strengths of the journal: The journal has an online first facility in which the accepted manuscripts may be published on the website before being included in a regular issue of the journal. This cuts down the time between their acceptance and the publication. The journal is indexed in many databases, though not in PubMed. The editorial board should now take steps to index the journal in PubMed. The journal has a system of notifying readers through e-mail when a new issue is released. Also, the articles are available in both the HTML and the PDF formats. I especially like the new and colorful page format of the journal. Also, the access statistics of the articles are available. The prepublication and the manuscript tracking system are also helpful for the authors.
Areas for improvement: In certain cases, I felt that the peer review process of the manuscripts was not up to international standards and that it should be strengthened. Also, the number of manuscripts in an issue is high and it may be difficult for readers to go through all of them. The journal can consider tightening of the peer review process and increasing the quality standards for the acceptance of the manuscripts. I faced occasional problems with the online manuscript submission (Pre-publishing) system, which have to be addressed.
Overall, the publishing process with JCDR has been smooth, quick and relatively hassle free and I can recommend other authors to consider the journal as an outlet for their work."



Dr. P. Ravi Shankar
KIST Medical College, P.O. Box 14142, Kathmandu, Nepal.
E-mail: ravi.dr.shankar@gmail.com
On April 2011
Anuradha

Dear team JCDR, I would like to thank you for the very professional and polite service provided by everyone at JCDR. While i have been in the field of writing and editing for sometime, this has been my first attempt in publishing a scientific paper.Thank you for hand-holding me through the process.


Dr. Anuradha
E-mail: anuradha2nittur@gmail.com
On Jan 2020

Important Notice

Short Communication
Year : 2024 | Month : January | Volume : 18 | Issue : 1 | Page : FM01 - FM03 Full Version

Capacity Building in Research on Traditional Medicine: Experience of a Workshop Conducted under the Aegis of the Indian Council of Medical Research


Published: January 1, 2024 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2024/64777.18926
Padmaja Anil Marathe, Sandhya Kaustubh Kamat, Harshad Vijay Kesari, SG Pooja, Nirmala N Rege, Nilima A Kshirsagar

1. Additional Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 2. Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 3. Former Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 4. Former Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 5. Professor Emeritus, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 6. Emeritus Scientist, Chairperson SAG BMS, Member SAB, ICMR, DTAB, Former National Chair Clinical Pharmacology, ICMR, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Correspondence Address :
Harshad Vijay Kesari,
1st Floor, College Building, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai-400008, Maharashtra, India.
E-mail: k05harshad@gmail.com

Abstract

Training healthcare professionals in research methodology is essential to promote research and innovation. This is particularly relevant in India, where there is a wealth of potential drug candidates from Indian Traditional Medicine (TM) systems that await exploration and scientific validation using modern medicine principles. Surprisingly, there is a lack of reported activities to train modern medicine practitioners in TM research in the literature. Recognising this need, a structured training program was planned and conducted under the auspices of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to train modern medicine practitioners in TM research. A survey was conducted among modern medicine practitioners to assess training gaps and identify key areas to be covered in the workshop modules. The workshop received a positive response, as evidenced by the numerous registration applications and positive feedback from participants. The present article shares the experiences of conducting the pilot workshop, which may serve as a valuable resource for planning similar workshops.

Keywords

Clinical research, Education, Research design, Traditional medicine research

There has been a rapid surge in the number of research articles published in India over the last decade (1). In 2020, India’s contribution to the global research output in science, including health sciences, engineering, and other fields, was about 5.07%, compared to 3.12% in 2010 (2). However, the quality of medical research studies from India, as estimated by the citations received, leaves much to be desired (3). One crucial step to enhance the quality of medical research and meet globally acceptable standards is the training of researchers. Since 2019, training in research methodology for postgraduate medical students and faculty has been made available online through the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) platform by ICMR (4). However, its short-term and long-term impact has not been systematically evaluated (5),(6).

To add to these challenges, research in Traditional Medicine (TM) is far from satisfactory. A quick search on PubMed using the search term “TM” in the title or abstract fields and the filter ‘Clinical Trial/ Randomised Controlled Trial’ yielded only 224 results from 1989 to the present. Among these 224 results, only seven were from India, while the rest were from Chinese and Persian TM systems (7). This is a concerning situation, considering that the Indian traditional system of medicine has been in existence for thousands of years. It has been widely discussed that TMs should undergo scientific validation to gain global acceptance. In fact, there is a wealth of potential drug candidates within Indian traditional systems of medicine that need to be explored using modern research methods.

Therefore, it is necessary to focus on TM research, particularly in therapeutic areas where modern medicine treatments have failed or have limitations, and there is an unmet clinical need. In one study, clinicians identified arthritis, diabetes mellitus, backache, and malignancy as conditions requiring better treatment options (8).

It is evident that there is a lack of systematic experimental or clinical studies evaluating the role of TM (9),(10). It is often emphasised that coordinated multidisciplinary efforts are necessary, and researchers with a genuine interest and determination to pursue TM research should receive appropriate training.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) TM Strategy 2014–2023, which aims to support Member States in strengthening the role of Traditional Medicine (TM), emphasises the importance of education and the integration of modern medicine and TM systems to enhance Traditional Medicine Research (TMR). According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) survey on research on traditional and complementary medicines, Member States identified technical guidance on research and evaluation of safety, quality, and efficacy as areas of high priority requiring support from WHO (11).

Literature does not report any training activities or courses for modern medicine practitioners to promote more inclusive research collaboration (12). Recognising this gap, ICMR identified the need for a structured training program in clinical pharmacology research. In 2018, the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Seth GS Medical College was recognised as the ‘Advanced Centre for Capacity Building of Young Investigators in Clinical Pharmacology Research in TM’ to conduct this program. The objectives of present program were to develop standardised training modules for TMR, validate these modules with experts, conduct workshops across the country using these modules to identify strengths and deficiencies, and further strengthen the modules for wider dissemination. The program also aimed to encourage partnerships among clinicians, pharmacologists, and public health professionals during and after the workshops. Permission was obtained from the institutional ethics committee for the project.

Execution of the Programme for Capacity Building of Young Investigators in Clinical Pharmacology Research in Traditional Medicine (TM)

A survey was conducted to assess the training needs of young investigators. The questionnaire used in present survey consisted of two domains: Basic Research Methodology and TM Research. From the survey, it was observed that the participants had received adequate training in basic research methodology, but many expressed a willingness for further training. Although the participants had a very limited experience in conducting research on TM, they expressed interest in TM research. The need for funding to support TMR studies was also expressed by the participants. The survey played a crucial role in identifying gaps in training and areas where emphasis was necessary (13).

In the first year of the project (2018-19), the training modules were designed in consultation with subject experts and revised using an iterative approach. Potential resource persons to deliver these sessions were identified.

Pilot Training Workshop

In the second year of the project (2019-20), a pilot training workshop was conducted on a virtual platform in November 2020 to December 2020. The workshop aimed to provide advanced guidance to those who had already received training in basic research methodology. Therefore, it was expected that all participants would have the same level of knowledge before delving into research in TM. Due to the participants being junior doctors who were busy providing their services during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the schedule was modified to six half-day sessions spread over two weeks instead of three full-day sessions. This adjustment did not affect the total duration of the training. The change also took into account the limited attention span for online meetings and prevented the possibility of virtual fatigue.

The response to the workshop was overwhelming, with 205 applications received within two days of opening registration. To facilitate better interactions among participants, the number of participants was limited. Twenty-six participants were shortlisted based on their interest, inclination, and experience in the field of TMR. The shortlisted participants consisted of five associate professors, twelve assistant professors, six senior residents, and three junior residents. Two participants belonged to the specialty of Community Medicine, while the rest were from the specialty of Pharmacology. Representation from various regions of the country was ensured, including Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. The selection process was designed to create an environment for the exchange of ideas among participants from diverse backgrounds, such as different age groups, specialties, geographical zones in India, research experience and institutes. This set-up aimed to facilitate peer-learning.

The workshop covered topics based on the previously designed modules (Table/Fig 1). Recognising the multidisciplinary approach required for TMR, the panel of resource persons included experts from modern medicine, Ayurveda, and senior experienced scientists from national organisations to share their knowledge and experiences.

At the end of the workshop, hands-on training was provided on designing a protocol. The participants were divided into six groups and tasked with designing a protocol in a given therapeutic area, using the knowledge gained during the workshop. The therapeutic areas assigned to the groups were osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, wound healing, COVID-19, piles, and stress. Each group was instructed to design a clinical study to evaluate a Traditional Medicine (TM) of their choice that claimed to be effective for the assigned condition. To facilitate collaboration, the participants in each group were encouraged to communicate with each other through social media platforms, where they could brainstorm and exchange ideas. Additionally, each team was assigned an Ayurvedic physician from the Ayurveda Research Centre of the Institute to provide inputs related to Traditional Medicines.

The groups presented their protocols to an expert panel consisting of a clinical research expert, a TM expert, and senior clinicians from the institute. Participants from other groups were encouraged to ask questions to the presenting group and/or the experts. In-depth discussions during these sessions were the highlight of the workshop and were unanimously appreciated by all participants.

A pre- and post-test, containing the same set of 10 questions, was sent to the participants as a Google form. The participants were given 10 minutes to complete the test before and after the workshop. A comparative analysis, based on the percentage of participants giving correct responses, is shown in (Table/Fig 2). An appropriately designed pretest also serves as a stimulus to the learner and helps them anticipate the contents of the program. The test included various types of questions such as multiple-choice, short descriptive, true or false, and ‘enumerate’. The test questions were relevant to the scientific program of the workshop and covered topics such as the components of a focused research question, funding sources for TM research, adequacy of sample size, reporting adverse drug reactions due to herbal drug formulations, and the definition of a phytopharmaceutical drug, among others.

Participants’ feedback was collected through a Google form. A majority of the participants expressed that the workshop was a valuable learning experience and emphasised the need for conducting similar workshops regularly. The group activity on protocol designing received the highest rating. Most participants felt that the topics covered in the workshop were appropriate to their needs and appreciated the good coverage. They also found the allotted time for sessions and Q and A discussions to be optimal. The smooth conduct of the online workshop, including the registration process, received positive feedback. However, one critical comment suggested that the speakers should provide more real-life examples to explain the concepts. Some of the overall feedback comments from participants included: “I gained valuable insights into Traditional and Modern medicine research”, “The sessions were well-organised and interesting”, and “I learned new things about the basics of research in traditional medicine.” One participant was particularly motivated and sought guidance from one of the speakers on starting a dedicated research unit at their institute. The feedback from the sessions was also shared with the respective speakers.

A general observation for virtual workshops is the challenge of ensuring full participation at all times. Recognising this, the speakers made special efforts to maintain a high level of involvement comparable to a face-to-face workshop. Mini-assignments were given during sessions on formulating a research question and conducting literature searches. Participants were also asked to share their personal experiences in research. These activities, along with the protocol designing assignment, enhanced their learning experience. Although it is common for participants to be physically absent or engaged in other activities during online workshops, the majority of participants in this workshop attended all the sessions by adjusting their COVID-19 duties. Two participants cancelled their registration at the last minute, and 17 participants were unable to consistently attend during the second week due to unavoidable changes in their COVID-19 duty schedules.

The present pilot training workshop, which was the first of its kind to train modern medicine practitioners in Traditional Medicine Research (TMR), was well-received. Based on the positive feedback and the results of the evaluation of the pre- and post-tests, the workshop objectives were achieved. However, it is important to assess the long-term impact of the training program on the learners. Ideally, the outcomes should be evaluated through the implementation of research activities, completion of projects, publication, and dissemination of training by the workshop participants.

There were multiple registration requests from practitioners of Traditional Medicine (TM). However, as the focus of this workshop was to provide training to modern medicine practitioners for conducting research in Ayurveda, practitioners of TM could not be included. Using this model, similar capacity-building workshops can be planned for modern medicine practitioners interested in research in other Traditional Medicine systems under Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy (AYUSH). Continued support from the ICMR will be necessary to expand such capacitybuilding activities.

Acknowledgement

The authors sincerely thank the scientific advisory members Dr. Ashok
Vaidya, Dr. Nilima Kshirsagar, Dr. Arun Bhatt, Dr. Lal Hingorani, Dr. Renuka Munshi, Dr. Supriya Bhalerao, Dr. Ashwinikumar Raut for contribution in formulating the modules of this training programme. We also thank Dr. Rajni Kaul, former Scientist G, Indian Council of Medical Research for her support. The authors are indebted to all the speakers who were part of this workshop.

This work was supported by the generous funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research (letter no. 70/9/2014-CAR/BMS). The authors thank the ‘Seth G. S. Medical College and KEM Hospital Diamond Jubilee Society Trust’ for maintaining and auditing the accounts of the funds of this project.

References

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India is world’s third largest producer of scientific articles: Report [Internet]. The Economic Times. 2022 [cited 19 March 2021]. Available from: https:// economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/india-is-worlds-third-largest-producer-of-scientific-articles-report/articleshow/72868640.cms.
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White K. Publications Output: U.S. Trends and International Comparisons | NSF - National Science Foundation [Internet]. Ncses.nsf.gov. 2022 [cited 18 October 2022]. Available from: https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20214/publication-output-by-country-region-or-economy-and-scientific-field.
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[Internet]. Indian research quality lags quantity Economic Times Blog. 2021 [cited 19 March 2021]. Available from: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/ et-editorials/indian-research-quality-lags-quantity/.
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[Internet]. Nmc.org.in. 2021 [cited 15 April 2021]. Available from: https://www. nmc.org.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ONLINE_RESEARCH_METHODS.pdf.
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Chawla B. Medical Research in India: Are we there yet? Delhi J Ophthalmol. 2017;28:04-05. https://doi.org/10.7869/djo.301. [crossref]
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The Sorry State of Medical Research in India – Economic Times Health World [Internet]. ETHealthworld.com. 18 April 2017 [cited 18 January 2021]. Available from: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/the-sorry-state-of-medical-research-in-india/58241623.
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(Traditional Medicine [Title/Abstract]) - Search Results - PubMed [Internet]. PubMed. 2022 [cited 18 October 2022] Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /?term=Traditional+medicine+%5Btiab%5D&filter=pubt.clinicaltrial&filter=pubt. randomizedcontrolledtrial.
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DOI and Others

DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2024/64777.18926

Date of Submission: Apr 30, 2023
Date of Peer Review: Jun 12, 2023
Date of Acceptance: Aug 05, 2023
Date of Publishing: Jan 01, 2024

AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? NA
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA

PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: May 05, 2023
• Manual Googling: Sep 12, 2023
• iThenticate Software: Aug 03, 2023 (2%)

ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin

EMENDATIONS: 6

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