The Dynamic Interactions of an Integrative Healthcare Experience: A Phenomenological Study Through the Lived Experiences of Integrative Healthcare Professional

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the dynamic interactions of integrative healthcare through the lived experiences of integrative healthcare professionals. The U.S. healthcare system is fraught with high cost and fragmentation of care resulting in a high frequency of medical errors and dissatisfaction of patients and providers. Integrative healthcare is a method of healthcare that has emerged over time. It is an approach to care that is described as holistic, patient centered, and individualized, combining Western and Eastern medicine approaches.;Through a phenomenological research methodology based on the work of Moustakas (1994) and using a systems lens (Capra, 2014; Midgley, 2006), the lived experiences of 11 integrative healthcare professionals were explored. The research participants were identified through Internet searches followed by email and social media requests to participate. Participation criteria were to be actively providing integrative healthcare for the last year, consenting to participate, and completing an online survey and the one-on-one interview.;Through a reflective review of the one-on-one interview narratives and a synthesis of the composite textural and structural descriptions four overarching themes: (a) The impact of life experiences on the choice to be an integrative healthcare practitioner; (b) the critical elements of a caring relationship: respect, partnership, connection, and compassion; (c) the critical variables of a successful patient encounter: Time, finances, holistic approach, resources to support lifestyle changes; and (d) the positive impact of practicing integrative healthcare for the practitioner. The essence of integrative healthcare experience is holistic or whole-body care, a partnership in the patient's health journey, and identifying and addressing underlying causes of health challenges.;The findings of this research provide insights for policy makers, healthcare professionals, and healthcare organizations in the creation of viable approaches that will support and encourage patients to reach a higher level of health and well-being through individualized and patient-centered care. Additional research is indicated to explore each of the themes and essences in more depth, especially the financial models that may support a health-oriented model of care, and research that includes patients' voice and experience in participating in an integrative healthcare encounte.