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Monica Smith, DC, PhD1, Barry Greene, PhD2, Mitchell Haas, DC, MA3, and Junlin Liao, MBA, MHA, MS2. (1) Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chiropractic, 741 Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52803, (2) College of Public Health, University of Iowa, E220B GH, Iowa City, IA 52242, (3) Division of Research, Western States Chiropractic College, 2900 NE 132nd Ave., Portland, OR 97230, 503-251-5728, mhaas@wschiro.edu
Evidence points to increased utilization of complementary and alternative medicine services (CAM) such as chiropractic, although little knowledge exists about the coordination or integration of CAM with conventional health care. The project described here explores dimensions of the relationship between chiropractors and conventional allopathic primary care physicians in Iowa, to gather information about the conceptual formulation and barriers and facilitators of the design, delivery and implementation of practice-based research networks (PBRNs) that would include both chiropractic and medical providers. Nine focus groups made up of both academic and community leaders in their respective fields of chiropractic and medicine were convened throughout 2002 and 2003. Preliminary content analysis of the focus group transcripts reveals a number of factors related to the feasibility and formulation of multidisciplinary PBRNs. These factors align along the general themes of: Professionalism and Challenges to Professional Status, Communication, Base Knowledge about the Other Profession and Mutual Education and Training Experiences, Good Medicine and Patient-Centered Care as a Unifying Concept, and issues surrounding Primary Care Roles and Functions. For example, practitioners from both disciplines cited the need for multidisciplinary training opportunities to improve the working relations between the professions and thereby better coordinate and improve patient care. DC and MD practitioners also expressed a perceived lack of consensus, both within and across professions, regarding the appropriate roles and responsibilities of chiropractors within the overall primary care system.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.