Homeopathic clinical case reports: Development of a supplement (HOM-CASE) to the CARE clinical case reporting guideline

Abstract

Objective: Develop a criteria catalog serving as a guideline for authors to improve the quality of reporting clinical case reports in homeopathy.

Method: An online Delphi process was initiated with a panel of 19 homeopathic experts from Europe, the USA and India. Homeopathy specific item selection took place in three rounds of adjusting. The selected items can be used as an extension of the CARE clinical case reporting guideline.

Results: Eight homeopathy specific 'core' items were selected from a list of 31 suggested items; (1) the clinical history from a homeopathic perspective; (2) the type of homeopathy; detailed description of the medication--(3) nomenclature, (4) manufacture, (5) galenic form+dosage; outcomes--(6) objective evidence if available, (7) occurrence homeopathic aggravation, (8) assessment possible causal attribution of changes to the homeopathic treatment. A further 4 items were recommended for consideration as optional items when case reports are used for specific, in particular educational, purposes. The 8 core items can be used, merged into 6 items, as a homeopathy specific (HOM-CASE) extension to the CARE clinical case reporting guideline items 6, 9 and 10.

Conclusion: Use of the HOM-CASE guideline extension will contribute to transparent and accurate reporting and can significantly improve the quality and reliability of clinical case reports in homeopathy.

Keywords: Clinical case reports; Homeopathy; Modified Delphi technique; Reporting guideline development.