Comparison of integrative medicine centers in the USA and Germany: a mixed method study

Lim, EJ; Vardy, JL; Oh, BS; Dhillon, HM

Comparison of integrative medicine centers in the USA and Germany: a mixed method study

Lim, EJ Vardy, JL

Oh, BS

Dhillon, HM

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Supportive Care in Cancer, 2017, 25 (6), pp. 1865 - 1872
Issue Date:: 2017-06-01

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	10.1007_s00520-017-3590-2.pdf	Published Version	437.42 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Lim, EJ	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Vardy, JL https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5739-5790	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Oh, BS https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6063-4548	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dhillon, HM https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4039-5169	en_US
dc.date.available	2017-01-16	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Supportive Care in Cancer, 2017, 25 (6), pp. 1865 - 1872	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0941-4355	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/124005
dc.description.abstract	© 2017, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Purpose: Integrative medicine (IM) has received increasing attention since the 1990s, but few studies have explored the key factors of the IM model in health care. This study aimed to describe the IM model in leading centers operating in the USA and Germany. Methods: A 28-item structured survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted in six centers providing integrative medicine in the USA and Germany, and were analyzed using a convergent mixed-method approach. Results: The elements in common across all six centers were the following: (1) involvement of general physicians (GP) in delivering complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services; (2) requirement for GP or medical referral or recommendation to CAM services; (3) involvement of an integrative physician (IP) as a “gatekeeper”; (4) focus on research, education, and clinical practice; and (5) ongoing academic activities. The key elements differentiating the two countries were the following: (1) level of requirements for GP referral to CAM services; (2) differences in IM service delivery, including treatment modalities used; (3) accessibility of CAM services to patients; (4) interaction between team members and patients; (5) perception of CAM/IM; and (6) perception of patient-centered care. Themes underpinning these elements are the following: cultural aspects in conceptualizing IM health care; communication within IM programs; and resource availability for delivering IM services, which impacts patient engagement and team collaboration in the IM framework. Conclusions: Delivering IM health care requires a model of care that encourages interaction between all stakeholders. Developing a comprehensive conceptual framework to support IM practice is required to facilitate efficient and safe patient care.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Supportive Care in Cancer	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s00520-017-3590-2	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Complementary Therapies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery of Health Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	United States	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Germany	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Integrative Medicine	en_US
dc.title	Comparison of integrative medicine centers in the USA and Germany: a mixed method study	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	25	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Medical and Molecular Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	25	en_US

Abstract:

© 2017, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Purpose: Integrative medicine (IM) has received increasing attention since the 1990s, but few studies have explored the key factors of the IM model in health care. This study aimed to describe the IM model in leading centers operating in the USA and Germany. Methods: A 28-item structured survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted in six centers providing integrative medicine in the USA and Germany, and were analyzed using a convergent mixed-method approach. Results: The elements in common across all six centers were the following: (1) involvement of general physicians (GP) in delivering complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services; (2) requirement for GP or medical referral or recommendation to CAM services; (3) involvement of an integrative physician (IP) as a “gatekeeper”; (4) focus on research, education, and clinical practice; and (5) ongoing academic activities. The key elements differentiating the two countries were the following: (1) level of requirements for GP referral to CAM services; (2) differences in IM service delivery, including treatment modalities used; (3) accessibility of CAM services to patients; (4) interaction between team members and patients; (5) perception of CAM/IM; and (6) perception of patient-centered care. Themes underpinning these elements are the following: cultural aspects in conceptualizing IM health care; communication within IM programs; and resource availability for delivering IM services, which impacts patient engagement and team collaboration in the IM framework. Conclusions: Delivering IM health care requires a model of care that encourages interaction between all stakeholders. Developing a comprehensive conceptual framework to support IM practice is required to facilitate efficient and safe patient care.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/124005