QuackFinder: A Probabilistic Approach

Abstract

Quackery is profoundly rooted in rural areas, , but cities are also considerably affected. Countries, whether developed or developing, are experiencing this curse. Quackery is one of the primary reasons for the recent AIDS epidemic among children in Pakistan. In this research, we have conducted two separate surveys to study the causes of quackery. The sample sizes for the public and physicians were 157 and 58, respectively. The first questionnaire was handed to the respondents based in Pakistan to reveal the reasons behind the quackery and its widespread existence. The second questionnaire was designed to examine physicians' perceptions of quackery. The data were analyzed and we physicians having permit granted by the PMDC (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council) should be placed in doctor's clinics to help people distinguish between quacks and physicians. According to the conducted survey government may be held accountable behind the spread of quackery whereas lack of awareness from the media and high illiteracy rates are also the lead causes. Moreover, according to doctor’s perspective, awareness campaigns will surely help us to overcome this menace. It is not simple for common people to differentiate a quack from a doctor. To assist the common person, we have created a prototype android app called "Quack Finder"' based on our survey outcomes to predict whether an individual is a quack or a doctor.