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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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A sustainable treatment approach for patients with musculoskeletal disorders: towards a transdisciplinary collaboration

Authors

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Term

4. Term

Publication year

2018

Submitted on

Pages

121

Abstract

This thesis investigates how treatment for patients with musculoskeletal disorders in the Danish healthcare system can shift from a mono-sequential, predominantly biomedical practice toward a more holistic and sustainable, patient-centered approach through transdisciplinary collaboration. Using Actor-Network Theory, it maps relations and agency among key actors (e.g., general practitioners, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and other specialists) and draws on a biopsychosocial understanding of pain. The study combines literature review, ethnographic fieldwork with observations and interviews, expert input, and coding inspired by grounded theory; two empirical cases (KIApro and FYSIQ) illustrate practice. The analysis identifies four recurring tension points in current care: (1) professional hierarchies that impede internal communication, (2) the diagnostic complexity of musculoskeletal disorders leading to late or incorrect diagnoses, (3) divergent definitions of when a patient is “cured/treated,” and (4) insufficient mutual recognition of professional domains. In response, the thesis develops a framework to implement formal and informal transdisciplinary collaborations aimed at better coordination and a coherent, patient-centered treatment pathway. The framework outlines an ideal network configuration and a translated, pragmatic version, and considers financial influences. The contribution is a proposal for reconfiguring the treatment network toward a more sustainable, holistic approach; concrete outcome evaluation lies beyond the scope of the provided excerpt.

Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan behandlingen af patienter med muskel-skelet-lidelser i det danske sundhedsvæsen kan bevæges fra en monosekventiel, overvejende biomedicinsk praksis mod en mere holistisk og bæredygtig, patientcentreret tilgang via transdisciplinært samarbejde. Med udgangspunkt i Aktør-Netværksteori kortlægges relationer og handlekraft mellem centrale aktører (fx almen praksis, fysioterapeuter, kiropraktorer og andre specialister) og en bio-psyko-social forståelse af smerte. Metodisk kombineres litteraturstudier, etnografisk feltarbejde med observationer og interviews, ekspertinput samt kodning inspireret af grounded theory; to empiriske cases (KIApro og FYSIQ) belyser praksis. Analysen identificerer fire gennemgående spændingspunkter i den nuværende behandling: 1) hierarkier mellem faggrupper, som hæmmer intern kommunikation, 2) diagnosticeringens kompleksitet, som kan føre til sene eller fejlagtige diagnoser, 3) divergerende opfattelser af, hvornår en patient er “rask/behandlet”, og 4) manglende gensidig anerkendelse af faglige domæner. På baggrund heraf udvikles en ramme for at etablere formelle og uformelle transdisciplinære samarbejder med henblik på bedre koordinering og en sammenhængende, patientcentreret forløbspraksis. Rammen skitserer en ønsket (ideal) netværkskonfiguration og en oversat, realistisk version samt økonomiske hensyn. Afhandlingen bidrager dermed med et forslag til, hvordan behandlingsnetværket kan rekonfigureres mod en mere bæredygtig, helhedsorienteret indsats; konkrete effektmålinger ligger uden for det foreliggende uddrag.

[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]