title: Perceiving integration of a complementary medicine service within a general surgery department through documentation of consultations: a thematic analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to examine the meaning and practical implications of integration of a complementary medicine-based surgery service in a hospital setting (CISS--Complementary/Integrative Surgery Service) through analysis of consultation reports associated with this service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thematic analysis was used to evaluate CISS consultation reports in a hospital electronic consultant charting system during the first half year of the service's activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  304 consultation reports were analyzed. Nurses initiated significantly more consultations than physicians (55% vs 7%). Consultation requests were gradually more focused on specific symptoms, possibly manifesting a better understanding of the scope of complementary medicine in the surgery setting. CISS practitioners responded in more biomedical language over time, albeit offering a more holistic perspective regarding patients' needs as well as clarifications regarding the nature of the treatment they provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diverse communication patterns in consultations evolved over time representing dynamics in multiple levels of integration of the CISS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Documented communication through consultations can provide a window to the process of integration of complementary medicine-based services in health systems.
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Integrative Surgery Service, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Israel. eschiff@bezeqint.net
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Arye
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attias
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sroka
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matter
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Keshet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004282:Documentation; D013502:General Surgery / Q000458:organization & administration; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*