TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceiving integration of a complementary medicine service within a general surgery department through documentation of consultations
T2 - A thematic analysis
AU - Schiff, Elad
AU - Ben-Arye, Eran
AU - Attias, Samuel
AU - Sroka, Gideon
AU - Matter, Ibrahim
AU - Keshet, Yael
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Objective: This study aims to examine the meaning and practical implications of integration of a complementary medicine-based surgery service in a hospital setting (CISS - Complementary/Integrative Surgery Service) through analysis of consultation reports associated with this service. Methods: Thematic analysis was used to evaluate CISS consultation reports in a hospital electronic consultant charting system during the first half year of the service's activity. Results: 304 consultation reports were analyzed. Nurses initiated significantly more consultations than physicians (55% vs 7%). Consultation requests were gradually more focused on specific symptoms, possibly manifesting a better understanding of the scope of complementary medicine in the surgery setting. CISS practitioners responded in more biomedical language over time, albeit offering a more holistic perspective regarding patients' needs as well as clarifications regarding the nature of the treatment they provided. Conclusions: Diverse communication patterns in consultations evolved over time representing dynamics in multiple levels of integration of the CISS. Practice implications: Documented communication through consultations can provide a window to the process of integration of complementary medicine-based services in health systems.
AB - Objective: This study aims to examine the meaning and practical implications of integration of a complementary medicine-based surgery service in a hospital setting (CISS - Complementary/Integrative Surgery Service) through analysis of consultation reports associated with this service. Methods: Thematic analysis was used to evaluate CISS consultation reports in a hospital electronic consultant charting system during the first half year of the service's activity. Results: 304 consultation reports were analyzed. Nurses initiated significantly more consultations than physicians (55% vs 7%). Consultation requests were gradually more focused on specific symptoms, possibly manifesting a better understanding of the scope of complementary medicine in the surgery setting. CISS practitioners responded in more biomedical language over time, albeit offering a more holistic perspective regarding patients' needs as well as clarifications regarding the nature of the treatment they provided. Conclusions: Diverse communication patterns in consultations evolved over time representing dynamics in multiple levels of integration of the CISS. Practice implications: Documented communication through consultations can provide a window to the process of integration of complementary medicine-based services in health systems.
KW - Communication
KW - Complementary Medicine
KW - Complementary medicine practitioners
KW - Consultation reports
KW - Integrative medicine
KW - Physicians
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870302359&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pec.2012.02.012
DO - 10.1016/j.pec.2012.02.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 22425163
AN - SCOPUS:84870302359
SN - 0738-3991
VL - 89
SP - 430
EP - 433
JO - Patient Education and Counseling
JF - Patient Education and Counseling
IS - 3
ER -