Abstract

Abstract

Background: Statistics is a branch of modern science which is utilized to find out whether the applied interventions or a change in any observation is due to chance or is an actual effect of intervention. Thus analysis of data of clinical studies through various statistical tests is must for drawing scientific conclusions. However, there are huge differences in methodology of statistical analysis in Ayurveda researches which are mostly because of different gradation of symptoms, incomplete description of statistical procedures and emphasis only on descriptive statistics. Methodology: Statistical data presented in various published clinical researches in indexed journal was comparatively studied and was also compared with requirements of parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. Therefore, present review was done to present various aspects related to standardization of scoring of symptoms and its future scope for globalization of Ayurveda researches. Results and conclusion: According to statistics, Ayurveda clinical symptoms are qualitative data and thus it can be analyzed wither by descriptive statistics or by non-parametric test (if ranked). However, both these statistical measures are not enough strong to establish scientific ground for Ayurveda researches. Parametric tests is the only way to have strong evidence and this can only be performed if proper scoring/gradation pattern of Ayurveda symptoms is established. WHO–DFC sponsored project on Developing Guidelines for Clinical Research Methodology in Ayurveda is needed to be implemented to maintain uniformity in Ayurveda clinical researches.