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The Incorporation of a Complementary Therapy by Australian General Practitioners: The Case of Acupuncture
Citation
Easthope, G and Tranter, BK and Gill, GF, The Incorporation of a Complementary Therapy by Australian General Practitioners: The Case of Acupuncture, Australian Journal of Primary Health, 7, (1) pp. 76-81. ISSN 1324-2296 (2001) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1071/py01012
Abstract
Complementary therapies may be rejected by doctors as quackery or incorporated as part of their practice, although such incorporation may be limited. In Australia acupuncture has been incorporated as a normal part of general practice, although it is not accepted as an orthodox technique. This incorporation is demonstrated through analysis of national data on acupuncture usage and through analysis of two surveys of general practitioners undertaken independently in the states of Tasmania and Victoria, Australia. Further, it is argued, from examination of interview and focus group responses, that experienced doctors turn to acupuncture to deal with patients who do not respond to orthodox therapies. This move is possible because the valuing of clinical judgement allows practitioners to suspend their scientific judgement of the therapy although they are uneasy about doing so.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine |
Research Field: | Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Other health |
Objective Field: | Other health not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Easthope, G (Dr Gary Easthope) |
UTAS Author: | Tranter, BK (Professor Bruce Tranter) |
UTAS Author: | Gill, GF (Dr Gerard Gill) |
ID Code: | 21190 |
Year Published: | 2001 |
Deposited By: | Sociology and Social Work |
Deposited On: | 2001-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2002-05-21 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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