Volunteer Providers' Experience Referring Guatemalan Patients for Acupuncture Care in a Pilot, Integrated, Health Care Clinic

Purpose: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experience of volunteer providers referring Guatemalan patients for acupuncture care during a 1-day, pilot, integrated, health care clinic.

Methods: In a partnership among the University of Utah College of Nursing and Refuge International, the integrated, health care clinic occurred at hospital in San Raymundo. Before the clinic, nursing faculty offered providers an overview of acupuncture care. Providers referred 11 patients for acupuncture care. After the clinic, seven providers (one cardiologist, one certified nurse midwife, five student nurse midwives) were asked 10 questions in semi-structured interviews about their experience referring patients for acupuncture care. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed to identify themes.

Results: Five themes emerged from analysis of the semi-structured interviews. Providers accurately recognized primarily pain, among other reasons, to refer patients for acupuncture care. Providers stated they lacked a comprehensive understanding of acupuncture care and wanted a more thorough education. Providers did not encounter barriers to referring patients for acupuncture care, and referrals did not hinder clinic flow. Providers were enthusiastically receptive to acupuncture care and endorsed expansion of integrated, health care clinics. Providers felt acupuncture care offered an important and culturally acceptable alternative to biomedicine, particularly for Guatemalan patients who are frequently marginalized and lack consistent access to health care.

Discussion: Results from this pilot study indicate promising potential for offering acupuncture care in an integrated, health care clinic, particularly for marginalized patients who lack consistent access to health care.