An Overview of the Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI): a practice-based research network for complementary medicine

Amie Steel,Janet Schloss,Jon Adams,Jon Wardle,David Sibbritt,Matthew Leach,Helene Diezel

doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1609-3

Abstract

BackgroundThe Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI) is an innovative, multi-modality practice-based research network (PBRN) that represents fourteen complementary medicine (CM) professions across Australia. It is the largest known PBRN for complementary healthcare in the world and was launched in 2015. The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the progress of the PRACI project, including a description of the characteristics of PRACI members in order to facilitate further sub-studies through the PRACI PBRN.MethodsA CM workforce survey was distributed electronically to CM practitioners across fourteen disciplines, throughout Australia. Practitioners electing to become a member of PRACI were registered on the PBRN database. The database was interrogated and the data analysed to described sociodemographic characteristics, practice characteristics, professional qualification and practice interest of PRACI members.ResultsFoundational members of PRACI were found to be predominately female (76.2%) and middle-aged (82.5%). Members were primarily located in urban settings (82.5%) across the Eastern seaboard of Australia (82.5%), with few working remotely. The main modalities represented include massage therapists (58.5%), naturopaths (26.4%) and nutritionists (14.4%). The primary area of clinical interest for PRACI members were general health and well-being (75.4%), musculoskeletal complaints (72%) and pain management (62.6%).ConclusionsPRACI provides an important infrastructure for complementary healthcare research in Australia and its success relies on CM practitioners being involved in the research being conducted through the PBRN. The aim of this database is to ensure that the research conducted through PRACI is rigorous, robust, clinically relevant and reflects the diversity of clinical practice amongst CM practitioners in Australia.

Highlights

The Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI) is an innovative, multi-modality practice-based research network (PBRN) that represents fourteen complementary medicine (CM) professions across Australia
The exact response rate of either the baseline survey or the PRACI membership could not be calculated due to the absence of reliable national workforce numbers, due in part to an absence of registration of the professions included in PRACI, or the age of work that has been done relating to professions in PRACI
PRACI is a new and innovative resource for CM research. It represents the largest CM practice-based research network in the world based on the total number of included professional groups (n = 14)

Summary

Introduction

The Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI) is an innovative, multi-modality practice-based research network (PBRN) that represents fourteen complementary medicine (CM) professions across Australia. It is the largest known PBRN for complementary healthcare in the world and was launched in 2015. In the absence of any national or regional databases that provide complete lists of members of the remaining CM professions, the defining features of CM professional groups rely on the broader accepted characteristics of a profession Based on these characteristics, CM practitioners who undertake paid work which is knowledge-based and achieved following higher education and/or vocational training in their respective CM field are considered to be part of the relevant CM profession in Australia [6]. A number of practitioners may have training in multiple fields and as such may belong to multiple professions

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