Chronicles
9 April 2025
RITMA for Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary in Integrative Health: Toward a Holistic Approach to Care
A NEW VISION OF CARE
As healthcare needs become increasingly complex, a holistic approach is essential. Integrative health, which combines conventional medicine with complementary practices, relies on collaboration between various professionals. But how does this collaboration work? Two models stand out: multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity. While the former brings together distinct areas of expertise, the latter fosters synergy between them. Together, they redefine patient care.
MULTIDISCIPLINARITY: A JUXTAPOSITION OF EXPERTISE
In a multidisciplinary model, different professionals work in parallel to treat a patient. Each contributes their expertise but does not necessarily engage in deep exchanges with other practitioners.
Example: A patient suffering from chronic pain may consult a general practitioner for medical follow-up, a physiotherapist for rehabilitation, a naturopath for herbal therapy advice, and a psychologist for emotional support. Each operates independently.
STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS:
Advantages: Offers a diverse range of care options and respects the independence of each discipline.
Disadvantages: Lack of coordination can lead to redundancies or even contradictions in recommendations.
INTERDISCIPLINARITY: A FUSION OF APPROACHES
Whereas multidisciplinarity juxtaposes interventions, interdisciplinarity integrates them. Professionals exchange insights, challenge each other’s perspectives, and co-construct a coherent care plan.
Example: A patient with fibromyalgia may benefit from a joint approach: a rheumatologist prescribes treatment, a physiotherapist adjusts physical exercises in coordination with an acupuncturist working on pain management, while a psychologist helps the patient manage stress. Here, each professional adapts their intervention based on the others.
STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS:
Advantages: Allows for better-personalized care and maximizes treatment effectiveness.
Disadvantages: Requires fluid communication and time to coordinate interventions.
SUCCESSFUL MODELS OF COLLABORATION
Many institutions have adopted these approaches to enhance the quality of care:
Integrative clinics: These bring together doctors, specialists in complementary medicine, and therapists under one roof, fostering interdisciplinarity.
Oncology care programs: These combine conventional treatments, acupuncture to manage side effects, and psychotherapy for emotional well-being.
TOWARD A COLLABORATIVE FUTURE: ESSENTIAL TOOLS
For these approaches to succeed, several key elements must be in place:
Shared communication platforms: Digital medical records facilitate coordinating patient follow-ups.
Cross-training for practitioners: Understanding the basics of partner disciplines encourages respect and integration of care.
Patients as active participants: Therapeutic education plays a fundamental role in optimizing adherence to care plans.
A CHANGING MEDICAL LANDSCAPE
The combination of multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity is transforming integrative health into a dynamic model of care tailored to individual needs. While multidisciplinarity offers a diversity of approaches, interdisciplinarity ensures the essential synergy needed to optimize treatments. Together, they shape a more human-centred, effective, and harmonious healthcare system.