JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a growing global burden. Ayurvedic interventions are utilised in clinical settings. However, the evidence available from them is dispersed, variably reported, and there is heterogeneity in the evidence, which precludes a meta-analysis. A scoping review is thus warranted to map what has been studied, how it has been studied, and where the gaps lie, to inform evidence-based integrative care and achieve the goal of SDG-3.

Objective:

To identify and map human clinical evidence on Ayurvedic interventions for PD; classify intervention categories and outcome domains; describe methodological characteristics; and highlight evidence gaps to guide future research.

Methods:

PRISMA-ScR checklist. We will fetch papers from the databases Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, IndMED, AYUSH Research Portal and DHARA, grey literature (trial registries: ClinicalTrials.gov, CTRI, WHO ICTRP, EU CTR; dissertations/theses: Shodhganga, ProQuest; conference proceedings; government/NGO reports). Inclusion: human participants with PD receiving Ayurvedic interventions in clinical, integrative settings; randomised/quasi-experimental/pragmatic trials, observational cohorts/case–control/cross-sectional studies, and case series. Exclusion: Non-primary or non–peer reviewed literature, studies without clear diagnostic criteria, outcome measures, or treatment details. Two reviewers will screen the data collected independently; Cohen's kappa and percent agreement will index inter-rater reliability with consensus/third-reviewer adjudication. Data will be duplicated and charted, will be summarised using descriptive statistics (counts, percentages, medians [interquartile range] where relevant) and presented in tabular and thematic formats, evidence maps/heatmaps, and concept diagrams. A structured stakeholder consultation (people with PD/caregivers, Ayurvedic clinicians, neurologists, trialists/policy) will be done to refine charting and interpret findings.

Results:

A preliminary search strategy was developed for PubMed and subsequently adapted for other databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, IndMED, DHARA, AYUSH Research Portal, Google Scholar, and ProQuest. Initial exploratory searches were conducted to refine keywords, controlled vocabulary terms, and Boolean operators. The final database-specific search strategies are provided in the Appendix section.

Conclusions:

This study will systematically identify, collate, and map human clinical evidence on Ayurvedic interventions for Parkinson's disease (PD) delivered in clinical, integrative, or community-based care settings – including randomised trials, non-randomised/quasi-experimental studies, pragmatic studies, observational cohorts/case–control/cross-sectional studies, and clinical case series. Clinical Trial: This scoping review protocol has been registered with the OSF and is currently under embargo until published.