The development of a model to facilitate success when establishing a homoeopathic private practice in South Africa

D.Tech. (Homoeopathy)In South Africa, the full time training for Homeopathy consists of a five year Masters Degree programme offered at two tertiary institutions; the University of Johannesburg and Durban University of Technology. An outcome of training states that graduate homeopaths must have competency in establishing a private practice. Graduates in homeopathy invest a minimum of five years, but not uncommonly in excess of seven years before graduating, which has considerable time and cost implications. Research has shown that most graduates struggle to establish viable private practices but unfortunately there is a lack of theoretical or research-generated knowledge available to help address the problem. The purpose of the study is to develop a model to facilitate success when establishing a Homeopathic private practice in South Africa. A theory-generating, qualitative, phenomenological research design that was exploratory, descriptive and contextual was used. The sampling method was purposive, using snowball sampling. The methodology utilised the four step strategy for theory and model development as indicated by Chinn and Kramer (2011). The interviews of eighteen participants, from five provinces in South Africa, who run successful homeopathic practices were transcribed and analysed using Rapley (2011:274-275) and Creswell (2013:193-225) analysis for phenomenological studies and Tesch’s inductive, descriptive coding approach (in Creswell, 1994:155-156). Four themes emerged from the data. In theme one, participants experienced initial start-up anxieties which were exacerbated by a perceived lack of practical experience and they indicated their ability to build expertise and self-confidence through the mobilisation of external and internal resources. In theme two, participants experienced challenges inherent in establishing a new practice and expressed how they developed innovative homeopathic practices by means of diversification, differentiation and service excellence. iv In theme three, participants experience that inter and intrapersonal competencies and professional integrity contribute to generating patient trust and word of mouth referrals. In theme four, participants experience the need to mobilise self-support in order to mitigate pressures associated with creating a successful practice. From the data the central concept was identified as ‘the need to facilitate the personal and professional competencies in homeopaths which lead to the establishment of successful private practices’. This was then conceptualised and together with the theoretical definitions and relationships, forms the foundation of a model to facilitate success when establishing a homeopathic private practice in South Africa. The model is graphically represented and described. Guidelines for the implementation of the model, which unfolds in three phases, namely undergraduate, new graduate and maintenance phase, are given. The model is evaluated according to the criteria given by Chinn and Kramer (2011) and deemed to be clear, simple, general, accessible, and important to homeopaths. In addition to being a frame of reference for graduate homeopaths in South Africa, information gained can potentially be used to augment Homeopathic training. The theory generated from the study can form the foundation for further research in this, or related fields