Browsing by Author "Kania-Richmond, Anna"

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    Exploring the Professional Role of Massage Therapists in Patient Care in Canadian Urban Hospitals – A Mixed Methods Study
    (2014-01-29) Kania-Richmond, Anna; Verhoef, Marja J.; Suter, Esther; Reece, Barbara
    Background: Massage therapy (MT) is becoming established as a recognized health care profession. MT services are being incorporated into various types of health care settings, including hospitals. However, little is known about the delivery of MT services and the role of massage therapists in patient care in hospitals in the Canadian context. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive examination of massage therapy incorporation into Canadian urban hospitals. Methods: A mixed methods study design was used. The quantitative phase (survey) and qualitative phase (semi-structured interviews) were conducted sequentially, with an emphasis on the qualitative phase. The survey was conducted in settings where MT services were organized by hospitals and provided by licensed massage therapists to patients. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposively diverse sample of participants. The quantitative and qualitative approaches were mixed during data collection and analysis. Results: Sixteen urban hospitals across Canada (5%) provided MT to patients by licensed therapists. The majority of hospitals were located in Ontario and ranged from specialized small community hospitals to large multi-site hospitals. Three MT delivery approaches emerged: stand-alone, closed-incorporated, and open-incorporated. In addition to clinical functions as health care providers and team members, components of the massage therapists’ professional role included: program support, educator, promotor, and researcher. Role related experiences suggested the presence of ambiguity regarding the massage therapists’ role, overlap with other health care professionals (HCPs), role overload related to limited availability of time and massage staff, and role conflict. Patterns suggesting variations in the role components and types of role experiences across study sites and in relation to team member status were apparent. However, the small sample size precluded further analysis of these potential differences. Conclusions: While hospital-based MT in Canada is not a new phenomenon, MT is not yet an established health care profession in hospitals. However, there is significant potential for the inclusion of the MT role in Canadian hospitals that should be research-informed for effective implementation.