title: Process for massage therapy practice and essential assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little evidence exists about processes in massage therapy practice. Investigating current frameworks is warranted. This qualitative study is a secondary data analysis using grounded theory to understand how massage therapy experts describe massage therapy practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 massage therapy experts were invited to a 2-day symposium to discuss best practices for the profession. Through qualitative analysis, memoing, and discussion, the data were summarized into themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes were identified around massage therapy practice: 1) client centered, 2) structure for practice, and 3) influencing factors. Each theme is clarified and expanded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conceptual models were developed for research and clinical practice and a definition for massage therapy practice was identified. Challenges and limitations are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The goal of providing these models is to give massage therapists tools to deliver the best possible care. The models need testing to see if they help advance the profession.
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, USA. Electronic address: Kenneda5@email.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Ann Blair
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: National University of Health Sciences, Department of Research, USA.
authors.forename: Jerrilyn A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cambron
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina, College of Social Work, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest College of Allied Health Sciences, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Ravensara S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Travillian
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Grounded theory; Massage therapy; Outcome and process assessment; Practice guideline; Professional practice; Qualitative research