Title: Samarbeid mellom akupunktører og annet helsepersonell - akupunktørenes perspektiv
Abstract: Background: This study focuses on acupuncturists' collaboration with authorized health personnel serving patients in the palliative phase.Purpose: Acupuncturists are active in this field and white papers consider collaboration between professions as necessary. Methods:The study is based upon qualitative in-depth interviews with 12 members of the Norwegian Acupuncture Association who have treated patients in the palliative phase.Data is analyzed by means of qualitative content analysis.Results: Most informants do not initiate collaboration, they rather avoid this.Two factors may account for this: 1) the informants experience or assume that professional health workers are negative towards acupuncturists who themselves want to avoid what they consider to be a devaluation of them as professionals; 2) the acupuncturists themselves do not devote time and resources on collaboration.A few informants report collaboration; with personnel they know and with whom they have a relation they can control.Physicians are regarded by the informants as the patient's «gate keeper» against the alternative health market.Nurses are more positive.A possible development may be that the the physician's «gate keeper» role changes if the nurses are given a more independent role in the local palliative care. Conclusion:Lack of collaboration is highlighted as a main finding from the interviews with these informants.