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New Zealand research suggests that CAM use by GPs has decreased, while referral to CAM practitioners by GPs has increased, and that patients often do not tell their health practitioners when they are using CAM. The New Zealand Medical Council has developed guidelines for GPs who use CAM. However, there is no research in New Zealand that looks at how patients and GPs respond to CAM issues in the consultation. This paper uses data collected for two research projects on doctor-patient interaction. For this research, consultations between 105 patients and nine GPs were videorecorded. In this data set, all doctors but one were 'orthodox' and to some degree reserved judgement on CAM, albeit remaining cautious in how they made this evident. Patients on the other hand demonstrated a variety of strategies to get CAM on the agenda, and GPs were careful to couch any criticism in such a way as to protect the 'face' of patients. (author abstract)

The aim of this study was to examine the relevance of type of work and socio-economic status on the experiences of pain rehabilitation for workers with musculo-skeletal injuries. The paper reports results of a study conducted with patients (n=20) and treating professionals (n = 40). The findings of this study provide insight into how patients with chronic musculo-skeletal pain and treating professionals determined success and also what they saw as barriers to success. Emergent themes and rich descriptions that supported the study showed that patients’ experiences were shaped significantly by social factors, and that type of work and socio-economic status were key determinants of success in terms of patients regaining their sense of independence and control over their lives – as opposed to losing control, remaining helpless and dependent on others, or becoming intent on revenge and validation of their pain and suffering.