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Learning from Homeopathic Practice: Reducing Noise as a Means to Better Detect the Signals
Robbert van Haselen1, Yvonne Fok2, Aaron To2
1International Institute for Integrated Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Background:
In the Clificol COVID-19 Support Project, high levels of variability in the data collected were observed. This paper elaborates on noise as a source of unwanted variability in homeopathic practice.
Methods:
Two types of variability can be distinguished: wanted variability and unwanted variability. Unwanted variability is referred to as "noise." The topic of noise, and how noise can be mitigated, is further explored from a methodological and practical perspective.
Results:
The nature and possible sources of variability in homeopathic practice are discussed. The topic of noise, as distinct from bias, in homeopathic practice is further explained. Noise-reducing measures are proposed, which include the use of questionnaires, the use of symptoms that can be ranked, such as polar symptoms, and the grouping of similar symptoms for analytical purposes.
Conclusions:
High levels of noise in homeopathic clinical practice and case registries seriously hamper the ability to learn lessons from homeopaths' experience. Structuring the symptom collection process should play a greater role in clinical practice as well as in clinical case registry projects. Reducing noise and bias in clinical practice is essential for advancing the evidence-based clinical practice of homeopathy.
