Journal article
Chiropractors in Multidisciplinary Teams: Enablers of Colocation Integration in GP-Led Primary Healthcare
Healthcare, Vol.12(9), pp.1-18
2024
PMID: 38727483
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore and document the enablers and barriers of chiropractic care colocation in general practice at a large-scale private primary care centre in Australia. This study focused on the perceptions of healthcare professionals regarding this integration. The research setting was a large integrated primary care centre located in an outer metro, low-socioeconomic area in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Participant inclusion criteria included general medical practitioners, practice nurses, and medical managers who self-reported interactions with the physically collocated and integrated chiropractic practice. Data was collected from 22 participants using face-to-face, qualitative, semi-structured interviews with an average duration of 32 min. The data collected included perceptions of chiropractic treatment, enablers to patient referral pathways, and views of the integrated chiropractic care model. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted on the data set. All participants reported that this was their first exposure to the colocation of a chiropractor within a general medical practice. Four key enablers of chiropractic care integration were identified: (1) the practitioner [chiropractor], (2) the organisation [general practice], (3) consumer flow, and (4) the environment [shared spaces and tenant ecosystem]. The chiropractic integration enhanced knowledge sharing and interprofessional trust among healthcare providers. The formal reporting of patient outcomes and understanding of the chiropractor's scope of practice further enabled referrals to the service. Shared administrative and business processes, including patient records, booking systems, and clinical meetings, facilitated relationship development between the chiropractor and referring health providers. Colocation as part of a larger primary care centre created proximity and convenience for health providers in terms of interprofessional communication, and for patients, in terms of access to chiropractic services. Existing governance structures supported communication, professional education, and shared values related to the delivery of patient-centred care. Identified barriers included limited public funding for chiropractic services resulting in reduced access for patients of low-socioeconomic status. Additionally, scepticism or negativity towards the discipline of chiropractic care was identified as an initial barrier to refer patients. In most cases, this view towards the chiropractor was overcome by regular patient reporting of positive treatment outcomes to their GP, the delivery of education sessions by the chiropractor for the health providers, and the development of interprofessional trust between the chiropractor and referring health providers. This study provides preliminary evidence and a conceptual framework of factors influencing the successful integration of chiropractic care within an Australian large primary care centre. The data collected indicated that integration of chiropractic care into a primary care centre serving a low-socioeconomic region can be achieved with a high degree of health provider satisfaction.
Details
- Title
- Chiropractors in Multidisciplinary Teams: Enablers of Colocation Integration in GP-Led Primary Healthcare
- Authors
- Shauna Dawn Fjaagesund (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of HealthWayne Graham - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative IndustriesEvan JonesAndrew Ladhams - The University of QueenslandMark Sayers - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Sports & Exercise ScienceGary Campbell - Brain Treatment Centre AustraliaXiang-Yu Hou - University of Southern QueenslandMarius-Ionut Ungureanu - Babeș-Bolyai UniversityFlorin Oprescu - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Healthcare, Vol.12(9), pp.1-18
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.3390/healthcare12090926
- ISSN
- 2227-9032
- PMID
- 38727483
- Copyright note
- © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- The datasets presented in this article are not readily available due to healthcare data security reasons. Requests to access the datasets should be directed to sfjaages@usc.edu.au.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries; School of Health; School of Health - High Performance Sport; Engage Research Lab; School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science; External; School of Health - Public Health
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991025798902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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