Research: Integrative Health, Education and Care

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Research Integrative Health, Education and Care

• Stephen Baron

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Research Integrative Health, Education and Care

1. Reasons for Engaging with Research, particularly
   social research
2. Disintegrating Integration
3. A Centre for Anthroposophic Medicine and
   Integrative Care?

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Reasons for Researching Pt. 1Inner Reasons

• Development of own anthroposophic practice
  through critical reflection
• Improved encounter of ego with ego through
  disciplined study
• Development of communities of practice through
  systematic enquiry

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Reasons for Researching Pt. 2Outer Reasons

• Understand and combat threats to Image of Human
• Establish and disseminate legitimacy of
  Anthroposophic Care
• Establish and disseminate value of Anthroposophic
  Care
• Establish and disseminate effectiveness of
  Anthroposophic Care

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Disintegrating IntegrationNo positively valued
antonym

• Who can be against integrated care?
• Who can be in favour of fragmented,
  uncoordinated, atomistic, boundary defending,
  impersonal, discontinuous care?

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Disintegrating IntegrationNo positively valued
antonym

• NOT to be destructively critical of integrative
  care but argue need for critical self awareness
• Five meanings of Integration

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Integration Meaning 1Joined Up Policy

• Corporate management since 1970s to ensure that
  activities of state dont contradict/ support
  each other
• BUT
• Rise of surveillance society in which
• More, and more intrusive, data are collected
  about individuals and groups
• Data are linked
• Consequential actions are taken on basis of
  linked data
• Strongly normative assumptions of a good life

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Integration Meaning 2Restructuring the State

• (Re)-organize the machinery of state so that
  joined up policy can be delivered e.g. Local
  Strategic Partnerships
• BUT
• Reduces mediating layers of state
• Twin movement of decentralization-centralization
• Discourse of standards and inspection

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Integration Meaning 3Interprofessionalism

• Break down barriers between different
  professional groups and institute joint working
• BUT
• Turf wars and exaggerated professional ideologies
• Increasing subjugation of the lay

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Integration Meaning 4Epistemological Integration

• Little considered in Britain due to the dominance
  of the (a?) natural scientific model
• AND
• Anthroposophic Medicine and Care has a (partial?)
  model. Can elements of this system be
  appropriated by non-Anthroposophic systems?

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Integration Meaning 5Holism

• Frequently claimed by many services but little
  analysed
• AND
• Anthroposophic Medicine and Care has a (partial?)
  model. Can elements of this model be appropriated
  by non-Anthroposophic models?

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A Centre for Anthroposophic Medicine and
Integrative Care?

• Invitation to Tender drafted for establishment in
  a Medical School in a British University with
  strong education and social work Faculties
• 1.5m pledged (to be raised)
• The aim of such a Centre would be
• To act as a centre of excellence for
  anthroposophic medicine and integrative care in
  the English speaking world, liaising with the
  extensive network of continental European
  universities, hospitals and practices

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A Centre for Anthroposophic Medicine and
Integrative Care?

• The core objectives of such a centre will be
• To develop strategic research in anthroposophic
  medicine and integrative care, gaining funding
  from Research Councils and relevant charities
• To subject anthroposophic medicine and
  integrative care practices to critical evaluation
  using contemporary research methods, elaborating
  innovative methods as appropriate
• To make a distinctive contribution to current
  developments in medical policy, practice and
  education especially in terms of integrative
  care, the individualisation of medicine and the
  role of spirituality in health
• To offer postgraduate degrees and diplomas
  specializing in anthroposophic medicine and
  integrative care, contributing to other
  postgraduate and undergraduate degrees as
  appropriate

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Five Meanings of IntegrationStrategic
Implications for Anthroposophic Medicine and
Integrative Care

1. Critically assess the completeness of the
   Anthroposophic system
2. Critically assess the holism of Anthroposophic
   practice
3. Explore the developing political economy of CAM
   and the place of Anthroposophic Medicine and
   Integrative Care in this
4. Evaluate the legitimacy, value and effectiveness
   of Anthroposophic Medicine and Integrative Care