Embedding chiropractic in Indigenous Health Care Organisations: applying the normalisation process model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Improving the health of Indigenous Australians remains a major challenge. A chiropractic service was established to evaluate this treatment option for musculoskeletal illness in rural Indigenous communities, based on the philosophy o...

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Main Authors: Polus Barbara I, Paterson Charlotte, van Rotterdam Joan, Vindigni Dein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2012-11-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/429
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author Polus Barbara I
Paterson Charlotte
van Rotterdam Joan
Vindigni Dein
author_facet Polus Barbara I
Paterson Charlotte
van Rotterdam Joan
Vindigni Dein
author_sort Polus Barbara I
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Improving the health of Indigenous Australians remains a major challenge. A chiropractic service was established to evaluate this treatment option for musculoskeletal illness in rural Indigenous communities, based on the philosophy of keeping the community involved in all the phases of development, implementation, and evaluation. The development and integration of this service has experienced many difficulties with referrals, funding and building sustainability. Evaluation of the program was a key aspect of its implementation, requiring an appropriate process to identify specific problems and formulate solutions to improve the service.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used the normalisation process model (May 2006) to order the data collected in consultation meetings and to inform our strategy and actions. The normalisation process model provided us with a structure for organising consultation meeting data and helped prioritise tasks. Our data was analysed as it applied to each dimension of the model, noting aspects that the model did not encompass. During this process we reworded the dimensions into more everyday terminology. The final analysis focused on to what extent the model helped us to prioritise and systematise our tasks and plans.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used the model to consider ways to promote the chiropractic service, to enhance relationships and interactions between clinicians and procedures within the health service, and to avoid disruption of the existing service. We identified ways in which chiropractors can become trusted team members who have acceptable and recognised knowledge and skills. We also developed strategies that should result in chiropractic practitioners finding a place within a complex occupational web, by being seen as similar to well-known occupations such as physiotherapy. Interestingly, one dimension identified by our data, which we have labelled ‘emancipatory’, was absent from the model.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The normalisation process model has resulted in a number of new insights and questions. We have now established thriving weekly chiropractic clinics staffed by a team of volunteer chiropractors. We identified an ‘emancipatory’ dimension that requires further study. We provide a worked example of using this model to establish, integrate and evaluate a chiropractic service in an Indigenous Australian community.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-b299d368c99f4e2d9b4f72c7cac3d6eb2022-12-22T03:10:55ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632012-11-0112142910.1186/1472-6963-12-429Embedding chiropractic in Indigenous Health Care Organisations: applying the normalisation process modelPolus Barbara IPaterson Charlottevan Rotterdam JoanVindigni Dein<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Improving the health of Indigenous Australians remains a major challenge. A chiropractic service was established to evaluate this treatment option for musculoskeletal illness in rural Indigenous communities, based on the philosophy of keeping the community involved in all the phases of development, implementation, and evaluation. The development and integration of this service has experienced many difficulties with referrals, funding and building sustainability. Evaluation of the program was a key aspect of its implementation, requiring an appropriate process to identify specific problems and formulate solutions to improve the service.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used the normalisation process model (May 2006) to order the data collected in consultation meetings and to inform our strategy and actions. The normalisation process model provided us with a structure for organising consultation meeting data and helped prioritise tasks. Our data was analysed as it applied to each dimension of the model, noting aspects that the model did not encompass. During this process we reworded the dimensions into more everyday terminology. The final analysis focused on to what extent the model helped us to prioritise and systematise our tasks and plans.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used the model to consider ways to promote the chiropractic service, to enhance relationships and interactions between clinicians and procedures within the health service, and to avoid disruption of the existing service. We identified ways in which chiropractors can become trusted team members who have acceptable and recognised knowledge and skills. We also developed strategies that should result in chiropractic practitioners finding a place within a complex occupational web, by being seen as similar to well-known occupations such as physiotherapy. Interestingly, one dimension identified by our data, which we have labelled ‘emancipatory’, was absent from the model.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The normalisation process model has resulted in a number of new insights and questions. We have now established thriving weekly chiropractic clinics staffed by a team of volunteer chiropractors. We identified an ‘emancipatory’ dimension that requires further study. We provide a worked example of using this model to establish, integrate and evaluate a chiropractic service in an Indigenous Australian community.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/429
spellingShingle Polus Barbara I
Paterson Charlotte
van Rotterdam Joan
Vindigni Dein
Embedding chiropractic in Indigenous Health Care Organisations: applying the normalisation process model
BMC Health Services Research
title Embedding chiropractic in Indigenous Health Care Organisations: applying the normalisation process model
title_full Embedding chiropractic in Indigenous Health Care Organisations: applying the normalisation process model
title_fullStr Embedding chiropractic in Indigenous Health Care Organisations: applying the normalisation process model
title_full_unstemmed Embedding chiropractic in Indigenous Health Care Organisations: applying the normalisation process model
title_short Embedding chiropractic in Indigenous Health Care Organisations: applying the normalisation process model
title_sort embedding chiropractic in indigenous health care organisations applying the normalisation process model
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/429
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AT patersoncharlotte embeddingchiropracticinindigenoushealthcareorganisationsapplyingthenormalisationprocessmodel
AT vanrotterdamjoan embeddingchiropracticinindigenoushealthcareorganisationsapplyingthenormalisationprocessmodel
AT vindignidein embeddingchiropracticinindigenoushealthcareorganisationsapplyingthenormalisationprocessmodel