Making sense of complexity: A qualitative 'Framework' analysis of naturopathic case management and clinical reasoning

Abstract

Background and purpose: The clinical encounter is inherently complex and uncertain. Naturopathic clinical practice is shaped by a traditional philosophy and practice guiding principles, with a therapeutic framework that incorporates a complex inter-systems approach. It is possible that this foundation may orient naturopathic practitioners to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty in a distinct manner. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of experienced naturopathic practitioners to the management of clinical complexity within naturopathic care.

Materials and methods: Twenty experienced Australian naturopathic practitioners participated across four focus groups, responding to semi-structured questions regarding their clinical reasoning strategies and case management processes. The data were analysed using a seven step Framework analysis method.

Results: Three primary themes were identified: i) patient is encountered as a whole entity, ii) clinical reasoning is ampliative and explicative, and iii) treatment reflects systems thinking. Participants perceived a focus on the connections between various case elements, building a comprehensive internalised schematic of each case. Participants saw treatments as meeting various needs including prevention, symptom alleviation, causal mitigation, and support of innate healing processes.

Conclusion: Naturopathic practitioners perceive they clinically embody the traditional holistic philosophy of naturopathy as a systems orientation, incorporating traditional and contemporary bioscience knowledge. This appears to shape a distinct naturopathic case management approach, oriented to working with patients in a complexity-informed manner.

Keywords: Clinical reasoning; Complexity; Naturopathy; Primary health care.