From: Towards a model for integrative medicine in Swedish primary care
General lessons learned | Future recommendations |
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It was possible to develop a model for IM adapted to Swedish primary care despite various identified barriers. | Funding and resource allocation beforehand important to improve provider participation and planning. |
Both a centralised and a decentralised clinic possible for delivering IM in primary care, the latter requiring less primary care unit resources. | Health economic evaluation of IM management vs. treatment as usual needed to motivate management decision. |
Time and funding are essential to enable staff commitment, routines and resources as within normal primary care practice. | Availability of general practitioners' specialist training in IM important. |
Need for a general practitioner with complementary therapy interest, knowledge and/or experience to coordinate the IM provider group. | Common IM documentation should reflect multi-modular management, and preferably be computer-based. |
IM case management slightly more time consuming, but improved case conference experience contributed to more efficient case management. | Combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods useful. |
Continuing seminars and discussions can improve understanding, knowledge, motivation and recognition between stakeholders and different medical models. Together with a shared knowledge of basic biomedicine this facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. | Â |
Clinical practice and communication were smooth within the IM group but written documentation procedures were more difficult to standardise. | Â |