Can holism be practiced in a biomedical setting? A qualitative study of the integration of complementary medicine to a surgical department

Abstract

In recent decades, complementary medicine (CM) has been increasingly integrated to conventional healthcare organizations, in which the biomedical profession clearly maintains dominance. Our objective was to investigate empirically what integration and ‘holism’ mean to the diverse professional groups involved and whether treatment becomes more holistic when CM is integrated. A qualitative study was conducted in a general surgery department at a public hospital in Israel. Data were collected by means of observations of medical encounters and daily work, and 30 in-depth interviews with medical directors, surgeons, senior nurses, CM practitioners and hospitalized patients. We found that most of the interviewed nurses, surgeons and directors and some patients believed that CM treatments were of value in addressing the psychological needs of patients within this predominantly somatic-oriented department. To CM practitioners and some of the patients, integration means introducing and practicing a holistic outlook in this biomedical context, which involves elements such as Qi, energy, soul and spirit. Such practices were directed to a suitable audience, namely, patients as well as conventional medical staff who were willing to explore a holistic approach. We concluded that patient care tends to become more comprehensive when CM is integrated. Despite the overall dominance of biomedicine, holistic CM practices were introduced to the biomedical setting of the hospital. Yet, the question whether holistic CM practices and perceptions will eventually lead nurses and physicians toward paradigmatic integration, has still to be examined.