“There is a way to work together”: A qualitative study on complementary medicine therapists' perceptions of their role in the Swiss healthcare system

Background and purpose

Complementary medicine has been undergoing a process of regulation and professionalization in many countries where the biomedical model is dominant. However, little is known about therapists' opinions regarding these changes. The aim of the study was thus to explore therapists’ views on the regulation of their practice and on collaboration between CM and biomedicine.

Materials and methods

We conducted this qualitative descriptive study by means of focus groups consisting of non-physician acupuncturists, naturopaths, and osteopaths in two cantons of Switzerland. A qualitative content analysis was carried out on the verbatim transcripts of the focus groups.

Results

Four main themes were identified: contributions to the healthcare system, collaboration with biomedicine, pathways to recognition, and integrative medicine. Therapists defined their role in the healthcare system in comparison to biomedicine, allowing them to highlight how they could complement it. They also noted an improved relationship with biomedicine, while highlighting the remaining barriers to optimal collaboration. Different ways were mentioned to achieve a higher level of recognition: better educating and informing physicians about CM, structured training of therapists that is federally recognized, state regulation, and development of scientific research on CM. Finally, although unfamiliar with the concept, therapists defined integrative medicine as horizontal collaboration between CM and biomedicine.

Conclusion

Despite the differences between the three CM practiced by the therapists, they produced fairly similar discourse regarding aspirations and concerns in the face of integration. This discourse should be considered in order to facilitate the integration of CM in the Swiss healthcare system.