P02.132. Repeatability of pulse diagnosis in traditional Indian Ayurveda medicine

Purpose In Ayurveda, pulse diagnosis is the unique diagnostic method that determines the proportion of diagnostic variables (vata, pitta and kapha); however, this is only justifiable if pulse diagnosis yields a consistent result. Though pulse diagnosis has a long historical use, still there is lack of quantitative measures on e.g., reliability of the diagnostic method. Reliability means consistency of information. Consistent diagnosis leads to consistent treatment and is important for clinical practice, education and research. The objective of this study is to study methodology to test the test-retest reliability (repeatability) of pulse diagnosis. Another objective is to provide additional interpretation of Cohen’s weighted kappa statistic for analysis of categorical pulse diagnosis variables.