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Integrating acupuncture in an inpatient setting
B Basia Kielczynska1, Benjamin Kligler2, Eileen Specchio3
1Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA bkielczynska@chpnet.org.
Qualitative Health Research
|August 1, 2014
Summary
Acupuncturists experienced excitement and frustration when integrating acupuncture into a New York City teaching hospital. Building trust with medical staff was key for holistic care delivery and overcoming integration obstacles.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
- Phenomenology
Background:
- Acupuncture is a licensed profession in the US with proven effectiveness.
- Poor integration of acupuncture into the American healthcare system persists.
- Tertiary teaching hospitals present unique environments for CAM integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To phenomenologically describe acupuncturists' experiences.
- To explore challenges and facilitators of acupuncture integration in a hospital setting.
- To understand the perspectives of acupuncturists practicing within conventional medical environments.
Main Methods:
- Phenomenological research methodology.
- Data analysis using Colaizzi's framework.
- Qualitative description of acupuncturists' lived experiences.
Main Results:
- Acupuncturists reported enthusiasm for hospital practice but faced organizational barriers.
- Practitioners expressed pride in their holistic approach.
- Efforts were made to maintain acupuncture's holism within inpatient limitations.
- A significant knowledge gap about acupuncture among medical staff and the importance of trust were identified.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncturists face challenges integrating their practice into hospital settings.
- Building trust and educating medical staff are crucial for successful integration.
- The study offers insights for other CAM practitioners seeking healthcare system integration.
