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Delivering shiatsu in a primary care setting: benefits and challenges
Zoë M Pirie1, Nick J Fox, Nigel J Mathers
1Academic Unit of Primary Medical Care, University of Sheffield, Samuel Fox House, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK. zoepirie@gmx.de
Aim:
To pilot the delivery of shiatsu in primary care and investigate the non-clinical impact on the general practice, its patients and staff.
Design:
Ten patients, referred by four GPs, were each offered six shiatsu treatments with a qualified practitioner.
Setting:
An inner-city general practice in Sheffield, England.
Methods:
36 semi-structured interviews, evaluated with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and practitioner research including a reflective journal.
Findings:
GPs welcomed having more options of care, especially for patients with complex, chronic symptoms, and patients appreciated the increased time and holistic, patient-centred approach during shiatsu consultations. Participants claimed the clinic increased equality of access to complementary medicine, improved perceptions of the general practice, reduced consultation and prescription rates, enhanced GP-patient relationships and the working practices of the GPs and shiatsu practitioner.
Conclusion:
The study successfully integrated a shiatsu clinic into a general practice and offers a model for future research on complementary medicine in primary care.
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