Integration of naturopathic medicine into acute inpatient care: An approach for patient-centred medicine under diagnosis-related groups

•Patients more and more require naturopathic methods to be integrated in regular hospital treatments. However, the topic is underresearched.•The effects of integrating naturopathic methods in regular hospital treatments on patient satisfaction and adherence levels need to be examined.•Patients evaluate the integration of naturopathic methods in regular hospital treatments very positively.•Patient satisfaction and adherence levels are increased. Especially multimorbid patients profit from holistic patient-centred care.•The integration of complementary care methods increases team and team-patient interaction, which can result in higher satisfaction rates for the recipients as well as - jobwise - the givers of care.

BackgroundThe integration of naturopathic methods into acute inpatient care has been the subject of very few scientific studies. Patient expectations of the service received in hospital are increasing, and the integration of naturopathy into clinical practice can serve as Unique Selling Proposition.Materials and methodsThe present study was conducted over a period of two years. In total, over 1700 patients were included in the study. The setting is an acute hospital specialising in a multimodal, patient-centred approach to treatment. Patient satisfaction with the use of holistic care, patient perception of adherence to treatment and the amount of time care staff spend with patients were all investigated. The patients' principal diagnoses were also recorded using the DRG classification system, as were the number of concomitant diseases and the length of their stay in hospital.ResultsThe majority of patients rate the integration of complementary care in the acute hospital very positively. The effects on patient perception of adherence to treatment and the amount of time care staff spend with patients are also assessed positively. At the same time, we can see that patients who receive patient-centred care in this study predominantly suffer from diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, diseases of the nervous system and mental diseases and disorders. They also have numerous concomitant diseases.ConclusionsIt could be shown that patients are very satisfied with the combination of naturopathy and academic medicine and with approaches that take patient preferences into account. Integrating naturopathy can be considered for multimorbid patients, in particular. Moreover, patient-centred care can improve staff satisfaction levels.