title: Delivering shiatsu in a primary care setting: benefits and challenges.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To pilot the delivery of shiatsu in primary care and investigate the non-clinical impact on the general practice, its patients and staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients, referred by four GPs, were each offered six shiatsu treatments with a qualified practitioner.
  
  
  METHODS
  An inner-city general practice in Sheffield, England.
  
  
  METHODS
  36 semi-structured interviews, evaluated with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and practitioner research including a reflective journal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GPs welcomed having more options of care, especially for patients with complex, chronic symptoms, and patients appreciated the increased time and holistic, patient-centred approach during shiatsu consultations. Participants claimed the clinic increased equality of access to complementary medicine, improved perceptions of the general practice, reduced consultation and prescription rates, enhanced GP-patient relationships and the working practices of the GPs and shiatsu practitioner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study successfully integrated a shiatsu clinic into a general practice and offers a model for future research on complementary medicine in primary care.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Primary Medical Care, University of Sheffield, Samuel Fox House, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK. zoepirie@gmx.de
authors.forename: Zoë M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Pirie
authors.forename: Nick J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Mathers
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014505:Urban Population