A digital Indigenous Knowledge System intervention increased treatment adherence 3-fold and reduced fatigue and insomnia by 35-45% among rural cancer patients in India.
Does a digital IKS-based intervention improve biosocial resilience and continuity of care in rural cancer patients?
An Indigenous Knowledge System-integrated digital health model improved biosocial resilience, reduced symptoms, and increased treatment adherence in rural Indian cancer patients.
Abstract Background: Through a three decades of community based participatory action research (CBPAR) (Ref.1), we are studying cancer disparity. Since 2010, the "KaviKrishna Satra" program has developed a long-term cancer disparity research platform through an Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS)-based social-network framework (Ref.2) and using ethnography + phenomenology (Ref. 3), plus pancha-padika education (1-2). We are developing a digital IKS-based intervention (KaviKrishna HealArt App + Nigudah Yoga + nutrition + Focussed group discussions/FGDs) and a biosocial resilience scale (Sahasa-Ojash) rooted in Vedic Jiva Upakara Cikitsha Tantra, an Avatar-Kosha-based biosocial healing system (Ref. 1 trend toward significance due to sample size). 2) Fatigue and insomnia reduced by 35-45% (p = 0.046), whereas appetite increased by 50-60% (p = 0.032). 3 ) Treatment adherence and follow-up continuity increased 3-fold through the KaviKrishna HealArt App. 4) Preliminary IKS-network analysis showed reactivation of indigenous social-communication pathways resembling historical IKIN structures, improving patient navigation and trust. 5) Patients reported greater psychological resilience, enhanced self-care, and improved communication with oncologists. 6) Clinical co-morbidities decreased (anemia, hypertension fluctuations, and GI disturbances). These biosocial gains correlated with a 3-fold improvement in continuity of care, greater chemotherapy completion, and markedly reduced treatment dropout. Conclusion: We have developed a unified, scalable, and cost-effective IKS-integrated cancer disparity model that Maps biosocial determinants using ethnography and phenomenology. (1). https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2024-1005 (2). https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2019-3342 (3). https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2024-807 (4). https://zenodo.org/records/8062404 Citation Format: Rupam Das, Lekhika Pathak, Shirsajit Mitra, Tulika Sarma, Chayanika Das, Upasha Sarmah, Riya Kanodia, Partha Saikia, Sonali Das, Manisha Canteenwala, Mallika Maral, Nayan Bhattacharjee, Hem Bhai, Uday Shanker Dixit, Bikul Das. A unified Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS)-integrated biosocial and digital health model to reduce cancer disparity in rural India abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2473.
Das et al. (2026) studied this question. A digital Indigenous Knowledge System intervention increased treatment adherence 3-fold and reduced fatigue and insomnia by 35-45% among rural cancer patients in India.