Pathways to enhancing people-centred preventive healthcare
What is this research about?
We are gathering opinions on the potential for greater utilisation of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) practitioners in Australian healthcare, and thoughts on whether they might help meet the goals of the Australian Government’s National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030 and Australia’s Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan 2022-2032. These Government initiatives strive to provide locally delivered, people-centred, multidisciplinary, preventive primary care.
This research does not refer to specific types of T&CM providers or professions – that may follow from this. There are different levels of evidence and popularity for different T&CM practices and treatments. Future research may focus on specific types of therapists. Types of providers include naturopaths, herbalists, acupuncturists, reflexologists, massage therapists, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, etc. The study has ethics approval from The University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee ID#29863
Why is the research needed?
A significant percentage of Australian’s, especially people with chronic conditions, consult with traditional or complementary therapists, yet there is limited coordination of care or information exchange between them and mainstream healthcare providers. This research will help us to understand the appetite for utilisation of traditional and complementary providers in a more formalised and consistent way in Australia. It aims to generate findings that will assist future research and policy development.
How information is being collected
- An online survey
- Interviews
Who can participate?
Anyone in Australia aged 18 years or older and able to communicate in English.
Findings
A summary of findings and links to publications will be included here when they become available.
Investigators
- Lead: Dr Rachel Canaway, Department of General Practice & Primary Care, The University of Melbourne, Australia
- A/Prof Carolyn Ee, Flinders University
- Dr Jennifer Carè, The University of Melbourne
- Dylan McCarthy, The University of Melbourne
- Ms Elle Jeyasingham, The University of Melbourne
- Dr Phyllis Lau Chan, Western Sydney University