Navigating the path: a qualitative exploration of New Zealand general practitioners’ views on integration of care with acupuncturists

Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p> Increasingly, many patients believe that a combined approach of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including acupuncture, and conventional medicine is better than either on its own, and more patients now have the desire to discuss CAM with well-informed general practitioners (GPs). However, to our knowledge, the interaction and collaboration between GPs and acupuncturists specifically in relation to shared care have not been investigated. This research explored interprofessional communication between GPs and acupuncturists in New Zealand. This article specifically reports the GPs’ viewpoints. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p> This study was part of a larger mixed-methods research project. Semi-structured interviews of 14 purposively sampled GP participants were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p> The data analysis identified both facilitators of and barriers to integrative health care . Facilitators included the willingness of GPs to engage in communication and a recognition of the importance of patient choice. Barriers included the limited opportunities for sharing information and the lack of current established pathways for communication or direct referrals. GPs also highlighted the confusion around scopes of practice in terms of the different styles of and approaches to acupuncture. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p> This research contributes to the body of knowledge concerning interprofessional communication and collaboration between GPs and acupuncturists and suggests that while there are significant barriers to collaboration, there is also the potential to impact provider satisfaction and patient well-being. It provides context within a New Zealand health care setting and also provides additional insights regarding acupuncture, specifically through the disaggregation of specific CAM modalities. </jats:p></jats:sec>

The changing clinical landscape in acupuncture for women’s health: a cross-sectional online survey in New Zealand and Australia

“…However, the rate of referrals from medical practitioners remains relatively low overall, and it is unclear from our survey if these are formal inter-professional referrals or a less formal 'it cannot hurt to try' endorsement. The low medical referral rate may be partly due to a recently identified gap in knowledge by medical practitioners about the availability, provision, and efficacy of acupuncture, leading to less patient referrals to CAM providers [44]. Another possible contributing factor to consider is the previously identified self-perpetuating communication barriers between patients using CAM their healthcare providers [44,45].…”

“…The low medical referral rate may be partly due to a recently identified gap in knowledge by medical practitioners about the availability, provision, and efficacy of acupuncture, leading to less patient referrals to CAM providers [44]. Another possible contributing factor to consider is the previously identified self-perpetuating communication barriers between patients using CAM their healthcare providers [44,45]. This is caused by patients refraining from initiating the disclosure of using CAM treatments due to their expectation that a non-judgemental conversation will be initiated by their primary care clinician, whilst the latter interprets the low levels of report by their patients as low levels of use of acupuncture and other CAM modalities [45].…”

The Changing Clinical Landscape in Acupuncture for Women’s Health: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey in New Zealand and Australia

“…However overall, the rate of referrals from medical practitioners remains relatively low overall, and it is unclear from our survey if these are formal inter-professional referrals or a less formal 'it cannot hurt to try' endorsement. The low medical referral rate may be partly due to a recently identi ed gap in knowledge by medical practitioners about the availability, provision, and e cacy of acupuncture, leading to less patient referrals to CAM providers [41]. Previously identi ed communication barriers between patients using CAM and not disclosing it to their healthcare providers [41,42] may also contribute to this.…”

“…The low medical referral rate may be partly due to a recently identi ed gap in knowledge by medical practitioners about the availability, provision, and e cacy of acupuncture, leading to less patient referrals to CAM providers [41]. Previously identi ed communication barriers between patients using CAM and not disclosing it to their healthcare providers [41,42] may also contribute to this. The dynamics of this communication barrier are self-perpetuated by patients refraining from initiating the disclosure of using CAM treatments due to their expectation that a non-judgemental conversation will be initiated by their primary care clinician, whilst the latter interprets the low levels of report as low levels of use of acupuncture and other CAM modalities by their patients [42].…”

Práticas integrativas e complementares na Atenção Primária à Saúde: percepções dos profissionais sobre a oferta dos serviços na região metropolitana de Goiânia

“…Essa desarticulação com os demais serviços da APS também foi evidenciada nos sistemas de saúde dos Estados Unidos (SCHWARTZ et al, 2021), do Canadá (HOLLENBERG;MUZZIN, 2010), do Reino Unido (SHARP et al, 2018) e da Nova Zelândia (ROBERTS et al, 2020;ROBERTS et al, 2021). De modo geral, tal dificuldade pode estar relacionada a fatores como desvalorização de conhecimentos de saúde não biomédicos; aceitação de evidências restritas; e criação de uma visão de mundo monolítica biomédica.…”