A preliminary study on trustworthiness framework for traditional Malay medicine data retrieval

Traditional Malay Medicine data retrieval may potentially contribute to the COVID-19 pandemic response. However, trustworthiness issues may hinder for medical professionals from accepting its formulations. This paper presents a preliminary study of trustworthiness frameworks in PubMed and IEEE related to Covid-19. The study examined three aspects of Traditional Malay Medicine data retrieval; (1) Manuscript Original Verification, (2) Author Profiling method, and (3) in-database module trust framework. Three relevance frameworks are selected based on each focus aspect. In contrast to current frameworks which may give priority to quantitative metrics such as citations, our proposed framework places emphasis on the authenticity of the source material, specifically the manuscript. Within the database, we incorporate trust metrics into the author profiling method, prioritising formulation replicability over context authorship methods. This measure of replicability not only enhances the credibility of the formulation but also functions as a tool to detect potential biases or errors in the original formulation. Furthermore, our in-database module trust framework prioritises the ability to adapt to new information and trends. This inherent flexibility can result in increasingly precise assessments of trustworthiness over time, requiring fewer resources for upkeep. This review aims to establish fundamental criteria and principles for evaluating the reliability of Traditional Malay Medicine. Hence, it is imperative to inspire contemporary researchers to delve into the role of Traditional Malay Medicine in tackling forthcoming pandemics.