Practicing in Both Worlds: Why two General Practitioners Decided to Become Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners

Abstract

In New Zealand, little is known about Western medicine practitioners, such as general practitioners (GPs), who have also trained in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The aim was to identify the reasons why two GPs decided to study TCM and become integrated health care practitioners. Data from two Auckland-based integrated (combined GP and TCM) health care practitioners were analyzed for the present study. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted. An inductive thematic approach was used to analyze the data. One main theme emerged. Both participants discussed how they perceived certain limitations in relation to their practice within the Western medicine model and that TCM allowed them to provide a holistic form of treatment. Being an integrated health care practitioner was perceived by participants as allowing them to treat the whole person rather than just the symptoms of a condition. TCM was also perceived to be beneficial as it allowed participants to provide alternative methods in treating their patients.