Don Mikler

Focus Group Field Notes

Executive Summary ~ 2.10.05

Is everyone comfortable with the term CAM? If not define:

Most of the practitioners were not content referring to Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) – An alternate descriptor such as ‘blended’ was better received however most were in agreement that we have not crossovered yet, (combining CAM with traditional Western Medicine to holistically treat a patient). Allopathic, (adv, the method of treating disease by the use of agents that produce effects different from those of the disease treated (opposed to homeopathy)), a more formal descriptor was used lightly. The median comfort level was to use complementary and alternative medicine interchangeably but the use of alternative singularly was shunned upon.

-“Were tying hard to get people into a prevention mode rather than drugs or surgery.”

- “Eastern medicine is preventative - healing vs. a cure.”

- “Healing includes dying too…”

- “I don’t cure you!” you will. I’ll facilitate.”

- “We try to fill the holes left open in areas of WM. To slow down and integrate internal and external factors that encourage your own body to take care of itself vs. the bodies reaction to stress, speed, chemicals, cutting that you receive at the doctors office today.”

“Doctors give drugs of which they know little, into bodies, of which they know less, for diseases of which they know nothing at all. 
Voltaire (author and philosopher 1694-1778)

“How do you believe people heal?”

- “Our ideas are seen with a wider lens and range.”

- “Varies for all individuals.”

- “Trust, the body knows how to heal and balance itself.”

- “There is a 3^rd element, I don’t know what it is, it’s missing, but it is a factor.”

- “Ask yourself: How am I going to help myself? Who am I going to choose? What do I like? Because the doctor’s are going to give you very little encouragement to give yourself your time. They’re trained to diagnosis without knowing about your complex lifestyle. They don’t build a rapport to gain insight into your physical, emotional and social well being.

- “We are not so judgmental, were wise and a guide.”

- “Don’t limit yourself.”

- “ I encourage you to find your direction, your own thing.”

- “Western Medicine extended his life…CAM extended his quality of life.”

The discoveries I made were:

1. CAM practitioners need to feel safe with cancer patients.
1. I sense that a few were not adequately trained in school or in their practicing facility to deal with cancer patients.
2. The goal is to help the cancer patients release fears of the chemotherapy.
3. The goal is to help the patient “do what the doctor said.” and stay on track.
2. CAM practitioners where very receptive to learn about there patients Dr’s diagnosis.
1. They were in agreement that they would say: “Please go see your primary care physician.” In discussion and encouragement.

“What do you think Western Medicines philosophy is of your work?”

- “Very disheartening. We are very lowly paid, worst than a struggling artist.”

- “Somehow we have to succeed as business women going against the grain.”

- “It’s a larger cultural problem, a capitalistic skew.”

- “Western medicine doesn’t recommend Integrative Medicine” - hardly a mention about the benefits of exercising, yoga, dancing etc., three times a week.

- “I chase down pharmaceutical information for my clients all the time”

- “The doctor prescribed physical therapy and I have to teach/interpret their recommendations to my client. They leave the patient uninformed.”

- Last resort, it’s thawing very slowly.

My Summary.

We held two successful* meetings and meet 7 providers. We contacted 32 via mail and netted a 25% attendance rate. In hindsight, I would increase the prospecting ratio an additional 30 percent to reach an optimum audience size.

• *I attribute our success directly to:
• Taking the initiative to find public meeting space with a good atmosphere.
• Preparing our focus group note taking forms, facilitators guide, consent forms and letters of invitation well.
• And most importantly, using Ann as our facilitator. She was warm and professional. Instinctively knew how to stay focused, on track and overall did a great job.
• Our field notes were taken by: Don Mikler, Pat Yirka and Tom Monaghan.
• I have taking the liberty to spare our cohorts from reading the entire focus group documentation here on Web-X. Written audio-transcriptions are available upon request.

Our participation in this focus group exercise has increased our understanding relationship with our original goals of fall quarter: to determine the level of contact CAM providers have with physicians, what is their view of Western medicine, and willingness to participate in an Integrative Medicine Program, just to name a few.