Expanding the Holistic Lens:World Spine Care Chiropractic Volunteer's Experiences Delivering Musculoskeletal Care in Botswana

Background:<br/>The increasing global burden of musculoskeletal conditions necessitates understanding the multifaceted factors involved in delivering care in low- to middle-income countries. Chiropractic volunteers offer unique insights into identifying and addressing these opportunities and challenges, fostering sustainable solutions.<br/>Objectives:<br/>This study investigated the experiences of international chiropractic volunteers at World Spine Care (WSC), Botswana, focusing on the challenges they encountered, opportunities recognised, and strategies implemented in delivering musculoskeletal care.<br/>Method:<br/>A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving online semi-structured interviews and a survey of 14 chiropractors who volunteered at WSC. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted in MAXQDA, complemented by statistical analysis in JASP.<br/>Results:<br/>Four key interconnected themes emerged: 1) Navigating Resource Constraints and Healthcare Inequities, 2) Cultural Sensitivity and Communication Barriers, 3) Volunteer Motivation, Adaptability, and Personal Growth, and 4) Expanding the Holistic Lens through Education and Collaboration. Volunteers effectively adapted their treatment strategies to the local context, balancing limited resources, inequities in healthcare access, and cultural considerations. Language barriers, differing pain expressions, and the intersection of cultural, lifestyle, and health factors demanded innovative and flexible communication and care strategies. Moreover, the findings underscore the critical role of capacity-building efforts, educating both patients and local practitioners, to address systemic and individual challenges more sustainably.<br/>Conclusion:<br/>Chiropractic volunteers demonstrated that overcoming challenges in Botswana requires a culturally sensitive, patient-centered approach informed by humility, adaptability, and collaboration. Their insights highlight the importance of integrating local context and culture into care strategies to build sustainable capacity for addressing musculoskeletal health needs in resource-constrained environments.<br/>