The Effects and Experiences of Shiatsu: a Cross-European Study, Dec' 2007
The aim of the European Shiatsu Federation (ESF) Research Project is to scientifically document the ‘experience and effects of Shiatsu as experienced by both receiver and practitioner’. This is a unique Shiatsu research foundation study that has never been done before. Phase One was a two country exploratory study into ‘The Experience and Effects of Shiatsu’ and was an open-ended interview based study undertaken in the United Kingdom and Germany.
Phase Two, where questionnaires specifically created from Phase One are returned by clients under a scientifically governed protocol to the Research Department headed by Professor Andrew F. Long at School of Healthcare at Leeds University and we are now pleased to announce that the results are available. This aspect of the research is designed to look more directly at the benefits of Shiatsu treatments and its long-term efficacy.
What follows is an overview of the project by Professor Long, Health Systems Research University of Leeds
The first phase of the research project and the Executive Summary of the Findings can be viewed on the ESF website. The report on the second phase can be downloaded here.
RESULTS: Visit the Downloads page to view the results .
The development of the study design took particular account of the fact that Shiatsu practice occurs within the energetic relationship between the practitioner and the client, that it is intuitive in nature, and that it is broad in its guiding philosophy and scope of application. The findings summarised below speak volumes about this ancient art. They validate an intuitive but practical system with contemporary and rational tools, bridging longstanding cultural gaps. These findings are now offered in service to the public, the profession, researchers, policy makers and health care providers.
Economic Implications; A reduction in physician/hospital visits over time alongside a reduction in use of conventional medication was evident.
Sympton Changes; A statistically significant reduction in sympton severity was found for all of the symptom groups.
Introduction
In 2001, the European Shiatsu Foundation funded a one-year, two-country, exploratory study to uncover client and practitioner views of the experience and effects of Shiatsu. The plan was that this study would form the first phase of a larger research programme aimed at enhancing the evidence base for Shiatsu. The study, undertaken by the Health Care Practice R&D Unit at the University of Salford, involved field work in the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany. Through a series of interviews with a sample of Shiatsu practitioners and clients, a wide range of common, immediate and longer-term effects was identified. (Mackay and Long 2003; Long and Mackay 2003). These included not only effects on initial symptoms but also areas such as relaxation, sleeping, posture and experiences of the body. Both clients and practitioners drew attention to the importance of their relationship and working together. Although clients described few negative effects a set of transitional effects was also identified, which included both a negative and positive component.
The exploratory research pointed to the need for further research, with larger numbers, both new and continuing Shiatsu users, in more countries, and undertaken through a longitudinal study design. The findings provided the basis for the development of a set of questions on experiences and effects, grounded in client and practitioner views, thus, enabling measurement of the most appropriate outcomes from the client’s and the CAM discipline’s perspective.
Phase Two
With the generation of further research funds, the European Shiatsu Federation commissioned the next phase of the research programme. Professor Long of the School of Healthcare at the University of Leeds lead the study. The study builds on the work already carried out with the aim of assessing the client’s experience of Shiatsu and positive and negative effects, over the short and longer term, and the maintenance of any effects over time. The study is cross European with fieldwork taking place in three countries: Austria, Spain and the UK. A tight and uniform research protocol was followed in each country in order to maximise the validity of the findings and the external credibility of the research.
The first stage involved recruitment of a set of practitioners from each country’s national association. A random sample of Shiatsu practitioners were drawn from the register and invited to take part in the study. Practitioners must have a minimum of two years practice post accreditation and see a minimum of five clients per week. Having given their consent to take part in the study, the practitioners were supported by the research team in terms of how clients were to be recruited into the study, ways to introduce the study to potential client participants and wider quality assurance procedures. The sequential sampling technique used ensured that the sample selection was unbiased.
Each of the clients were followed up for six months from their initial treatment session. The clients were asked to complete a short questionnaire at four occasions: at initial recruitment, 3-4 days after the first treatment, and 3 and 6 months later. The questionnaires, translated into the relevant language, were those developed during the earlier exploratory study. Topics covered include such areas as: reasons for seeking Shiatsu, initial expectations, experience of the Shiatsu sessions, comments on the client-practitioner interaction and initial and longer-term effects on presenting reasons and general well-being. In the vast majority, each question involves the client indicating their level of agreement with a particular statement or ticking the relevant box (see Box 1).
Once the client had agreed to take part in the study, the practitioner was given the client a consent form, the initial ‘first visit’ questionnaire and the ‘immediate effects’ questionnaire, together with a brief instruction sheet. The client then returned the signed consent form and completed questionnaires to the University of Leeds for processing. The ‘three-month effects’ and ‘six-month effects’ questionnaires were then sent out from Leeds direct to the client. Thus, once the client was recruited, the practitioner had no further link into the research process; she/he just treats the client as normal.
References
- Long AF and Mackay H (2003) The Effects of Shiatsu: Findings from a two-country exploratory study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 9 (4): 539-548.
- Mackay H and Long AF (2003) The Experience and Effects of Shiatsu: Findings from a Two Country Exploratory Study. Salford: University of Salford, Health Care Practice R&D Unit. Report No. 9.
Shiatsu
Society (UK). PO Box 4580,
Rugby,
Warwickshire. CV21 9EL tel: 0845 130 4560 fax: 01788 555052