Integrating complementary and alternative medicine into mainstream healthcare services: the perspectives of health service managers

Abstract

BackgroundComplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly included within mainstream integrative healthcare (IHC) services. Health service managers are key stakeholders central to ensuring effective integrative health care services. Yet, little research has specifically investigated the role or perspective of health service managers with regards to integrative health care services under their management. In response, this paper reports findings from an exploratory study focusing exclusively on the perspectives of health service managers of integrative health care services in Australia regarding the role of CAM within their service and the health service managers rational for incorporating CAM into clinical care.MethodsHealth service managers from seven services were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the health service managers. The services addressed trauma and chronic conditions and comprised: five community-based programs including drug and alcohol rehabilitation, refugee mental health and women’s health; and two hospital-based specialist services. The CAM practices included in the services investigated included acupuncture, naturopathy, Western herbal medicine and massage.ResultsFindings reveal that the health service managers in this study understand CAM to enhance the holistic capacity of their service by: filling therapeutic gaps in existing healthcare practices; by treating the whole person; and by increasing healthcare choices. Health service managers also identified CAM as addressing therapeutic gaps through the provision of a mind-body approach in psychological trauma and in chronic disease management treatment. Health service managers describe the addition of CAM in their service as enabling patients who would otherwise not be able to afford CAM to gain access to these treatments thereby increasing healthcare choices. Some health service managers expressly align the notion of treating the whole person within a health promotion model and focus on the relevance of diet and lifestyle factors as central to a CAM approach.ConclusionsFrom the perspectives of the health service managers, these findings contribute to our understanding around the rationale to include CAM within mainstream health services that deal with psychological trauma and chronic disease. The broader implications of this study can help assist in the development of health service policy on CAM integration in mainstream healthcare services.

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Western herbal medicine consultations for common menstrual problems; practitioner experiences and perceptions of treatment

“…Comparisons of conventional medicine rates for effective treatment of all four menstrual issues have been reported as variable across reviews (Marjoribanks, Lethaby, & Farquhar, ; Sharp et al, ; Yonkers, O'Brien, & Eriksson, ) and/or to be subject to significant risk of side effects (Kaunitz et al, ; Marjoribanks et al, ; Taylor, ) and in the case of hormone therapies, such as oral contraceptives and gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone agonists (Yonkers et al, ), and surgery (hysterectomy or oophorectomy; Yonkers et al, ) carry the significant drawback of being unsuitable for women contemplating pregnancy. Not only have health service managers acknowledged that CAM practitioners can bridge gaps in their service and improve holistic care and choices for clients (Singer & Adams, ) but some general and specialist conventional health practitioners have endorsed having CAM options available for treating gynaecological issues (Münstedt, Maisch, Tinneberg, & Hübner, ). Scope may therefore exist for increased treatment options for women but further investigation involving suitable clinical trials of WHM would be a prerequisite.…”

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Qualitative Study for Reconsidering Nursing Care in the United States

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