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The use of intuition in homeopathic clinical decision making: an interpretative phenomenological study

The use of intuition in homeopathic clinical decision making: an interpretative phenomenological study
The use of intuition in homeopathic clinical decision making: an interpretative phenomenological study
While intuition plays a role in clinical decision making within conventional medicine, little is understood about its use in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate intuition from the perspective of homeopathic practitioners; its’ manifestation, how it was recognized, its origins and when it was used within daily clinical practice. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with clinically experienced non-National Health Service (NHS) UK homeopathic practitioners. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the data. Homeopaths reported many similarities with conventional medical practitioner regarding the nature, perceived origin and manifestation of their intuitions in clinical practice. Intuition was used in two key aspects of the consultation: (i) to enhance the practitioner–patient relationship, these were generally trusted; and (ii) intuitions relating to the prescribing decision. Homeopaths were cautious about these latter intuitions, testing any intuitive thoughts through deductive reasoning before accepting them. Their reluctance is not surprising given the consequences for patient care, but we propose this also reflects homeopaths’ sensitivity to the academic and medical mistrust of both homeopathy and intuition. This study is the first to explore the use of intuition in decision making in any form of complementary medicine. The similarities with conventional practitioners may provide confidence in validating intuition as a legitimate part of the decision making process for these specific practitioners. Further work is needed to elucidate if these findings reflect intuitive use in clinical practice of other CAM practitioners in both private and NHS (i.e. time limited) settings
complementary medicine, homeopathy, practitioner, qualitative
1741-427X
1-8
Brien, Sarah
4e8e97cd-7bc3-4efd-857e-20790040b80f
Dibb, Bridget
1cdc4ce1-7f8e-4c21-80ed-c3a48cdae209
Burch, Alex
7d333f7d-6de6-4215-95bf-67347ffb7aaf
Brien, Sarah
4e8e97cd-7bc3-4efd-857e-20790040b80f
Dibb, Bridget
1cdc4ce1-7f8e-4c21-80ed-c3a48cdae209
Burch, Alex
7d333f7d-6de6-4215-95bf-67347ffb7aaf

Brien, Sarah, Dibb, Bridget and Burch, Alex (2009) The use of intuition in homeopathic clinical decision making: an interpretative phenomenological study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1-8. (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep153).

Record type: Article

Abstract

While intuition plays a role in clinical decision making within conventional medicine, little is understood about its use in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate intuition from the perspective of homeopathic practitioners; its’ manifestation, how it was recognized, its origins and when it was used within daily clinical practice. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with clinically experienced non-National Health Service (NHS) UK homeopathic practitioners. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the data. Homeopaths reported many similarities with conventional medical practitioner regarding the nature, perceived origin and manifestation of their intuitions in clinical practice. Intuition was used in two key aspects of the consultation: (i) to enhance the practitioner–patient relationship, these were generally trusted; and (ii) intuitions relating to the prescribing decision. Homeopaths were cautious about these latter intuitions, testing any intuitive thoughts through deductive reasoning before accepting them. Their reluctance is not surprising given the consequences for patient care, but we propose this also reflects homeopaths’ sensitivity to the academic and medical mistrust of both homeopathy and intuition. This study is the first to explore the use of intuition in decision making in any form of complementary medicine. The similarities with conventional practitioners may provide confidence in validating intuition as a legitimate part of the decision making process for these specific practitioners. Further work is needed to elucidate if these findings reflect intuitive use in clinical practice of other CAM practitioners in both private and NHS (i.e. time limited) settings

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More information

Published date: 2009
Keywords: complementary medicine, homeopathy, practitioner, qualitative

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 72970
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/72970
ISSN: 1741-427X
PURE UUID: ea37a4e6-f965-4c9b-bd44-a299fe5d0c04
ORCID for Sarah Brien: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1120-2364

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Date deposited: 25 Feb 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:45

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Contributors

Author: Sarah Brien ORCID iD
Author: Bridget Dibb
Author: Alex Burch

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