Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists
Abstract Background Chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists (COPs) can assess and manage musculoskeletal conditions with similar manual or physical therapy techniques. This overlap in scope of practice raises questions about the boundaries between the three professions. Clinical settings wher...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10738-1 |
| _version_ | 1797259461118656512 |
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| author | Joshua Toloui-Wallace Roma Forbes Oliver P. Thomson Nathalia Costa |
| author_facet | Joshua Toloui-Wallace Roma Forbes Oliver P. Thomson Nathalia Costa |
| author_sort | Joshua Toloui-Wallace |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists (COPs) can assess and manage musculoskeletal conditions with similar manual or physical therapy techniques. This overlap in scope of practice raises questions about the boundaries between the three professions. Clinical settings where they are co-located are one of several possible influences on professional boundaries and may provide insight into the nature of these boundaries and how they are managed by clinicians themselves. Objectives To understand the nature of professional boundaries between COPs within a co-located clinical environment and describe the ways in which professional boundaries may be reinforced, weakened, or navigated in this environment. Methods Drawing from an interpretivist paradigm, we used ethnographic observations to observe interactions between 15 COPs across two clinics. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis principles. Results We identified various physical and non-physical ‘boundary objects’ that influenced the nature of the professional boundaries between the COPs that participated in the study. These boundary objects overall seemed to increase the fluidity of the professional boundaries, at times simultaneously reinforcing and weakening them. The boundary objects were categorised into three themes: physical, including the clinic’s floor plan, large and small objects; social, including identities and discourse; and organisational, including appointment durations and fees, remuneration policies and insurance benefits. Conclusions Physical, social, organisational related factors made the nature of professional boundaries between COPs in these settings fluid; meaning that they were largely not rigid or fixed but rather flexible, responsive and subject to change. These findings may challenge patients, clinicians and administrators to appreciate that traditional beliefs of distinct boundaries between COPs may not be so in co-located clinical environments. Both clinical practice and future research on professional boundaries between COPs may need to further consider some of these broader factors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:09:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dfc3d5a15da647c598409ab7c945271a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:09:47Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-dfc3d5a15da647c598409ab7c945271a2024-03-17T12:19:56ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-03-0124111310.1186/s12913-024-10738-1Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapistsJoshua Toloui-Wallace0Roma Forbes1Oliver P. Thomson2Nathalia Costa3School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of QueenslandSchool of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of QueenslandUniversity College of OsteopathySchool of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of QueenslandAbstract Background Chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists (COPs) can assess and manage musculoskeletal conditions with similar manual or physical therapy techniques. This overlap in scope of practice raises questions about the boundaries between the three professions. Clinical settings where they are co-located are one of several possible influences on professional boundaries and may provide insight into the nature of these boundaries and how they are managed by clinicians themselves. Objectives To understand the nature of professional boundaries between COPs within a co-located clinical environment and describe the ways in which professional boundaries may be reinforced, weakened, or navigated in this environment. Methods Drawing from an interpretivist paradigm, we used ethnographic observations to observe interactions between 15 COPs across two clinics. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis principles. Results We identified various physical and non-physical ‘boundary objects’ that influenced the nature of the professional boundaries between the COPs that participated in the study. These boundary objects overall seemed to increase the fluidity of the professional boundaries, at times simultaneously reinforcing and weakening them. The boundary objects were categorised into three themes: physical, including the clinic’s floor plan, large and small objects; social, including identities and discourse; and organisational, including appointment durations and fees, remuneration policies and insurance benefits. Conclusions Physical, social, organisational related factors made the nature of professional boundaries between COPs in these settings fluid; meaning that they were largely not rigid or fixed but rather flexible, responsive and subject to change. These findings may challenge patients, clinicians and administrators to appreciate that traditional beliefs of distinct boundaries between COPs may not be so in co-located clinical environments. Both clinical practice and future research on professional boundaries between COPs may need to further consider some of these broader factors.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10738-1Physical therapistsOsteopathic medicineChiropracticMusculoskeletal manipulationsInterprofessional relations |
| spellingShingle | Joshua Toloui-Wallace Roma Forbes Oliver P. Thomson Nathalia Costa Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists BMC Health Services Research Physical therapists Osteopathic medicine Chiropractic Musculoskeletal manipulations Interprofessional relations |
| title | Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists |
| title_full | Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists |
| title_fullStr | Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists |
| title_short | Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists |
| title_sort | fluid professional boundaries ethnographic observations of co located chiropractors osteopaths and physiotherapists |
| topic | Physical therapists Osteopathic medicine Chiropractic Musculoskeletal manipulations Interprofessional relations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10738-1 |
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