Internationale Koordination
Anthroposophische Medizin
Freie Hochschule für Geisteswissenschaft
Medizinische Sektion am Goetheanum

Health Services Research

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Definition

Health Services Research (HSR) is a complex and difficult to comprehend research field in health science. The definition of HSR is constantly evolving and has been formulated by a number of thinkers and organisations. 

A current standard definition of HSR is summarized in the contract final report “An Organizational Guide to Building Health Services Research Capacity”, which has been adopted by the “Health Services Research into European Policy and Practice” programme of the European commission (1) (2) (3):

Health services research is a “multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation that studies how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access to health care, the quality and cost of health care, and ultimately, our health and well-being.”

Applied health services research provides data, evidence, and tools to make health care affordable, safe, effective, equitable, accessible, and patient-centered. For example, products stemming from health services research serve to enable providers and patients to make better decisions. They also can be used to design health care benefits and inform policy.

Health services researchers come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds. The workforce includes an array of professionals and disciplinary perspectives, including fields such as:

  • Medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and allied health
  • Social and behavioral sciences
  • Epidemiology and biostatistics
  • Engineering
  • Health care policy, research, administration, and management

Health Services Research in anthroposophic medicine

A comprehensive list of partially high ranking publications exists, which are countable for HSR regarding anthroposophic medicine. Publications range from reports on retrospective database research, prospective studies and reviews. Many of them have been generated by anthroposophic institutions or in cooperation with them. Additional papers exist, which have been published by institutions outside the anthroposophic community, but also incorporate information on HSR concerning anthroposophic life-style and anthroposophic medicine. 

Providing a better overview, those references are given in two separated lists below.

June 2017     

Dr. rer. nat. Daniel Krüerke
PD Dr. phil II (P) Ana Paula Simões-Wüst
Research Institute, Klinik Arlesheim AG, Swizerland

References

  1. Contract Final Report: An Organizational Guide to Building Health Services Research Capacity; American Institutes for Research; Washington, DC Contract No. 232-02-0082; AHRQ Publication No. 11(12)-0095-EF, October 2011

  2. Full report: Health Services Research into European Policy and Practice Policy, 2011;  (accessed 19.6.2017)

  3. Lohr K, Steinwachs D. Health services research : An evolving definition of the field. Health Services Research, 2002; 37(1), pp. 15-17


Exemplary literature

Hamre HJ, Becker-Witt C, Glockmann A, et al. Anthroposophic therapies in chronic disease: the Anthroposophic Medicine Outcomes Study (AMOS). European journal of medical research. Jul 30 2004;9(7):351-360.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Glockmann A, et al. Use and Safety of Anthroposophic Medications in Chronic Disease. Drug safety. 2006;29(12):1173-1189.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Glockmann A, et al. Health costs in anthroposophic therapy users: a two-year prospective cohort study. BMC health services research. 2006;6:65.

Widmer M, Donges A, Wapf V, et al. The supply of complementary and alternative medicine in Swiss hospitals. Forschende Komplementarmedizin. Dec 2006;13(6):356-361.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Glockmann A, et al. Rhythmical massage therapy in chronic disease: a 4year prospective cohort study. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine. Jul-Aug 2007;13(6):635-642.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Glockmann A, et al. Anthroposophic art therapy in chronic disease: a four-year prospective cohort study. Explore. Jul-Aug 2007;3(4):365-371.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Glockmann A, et al. Eurythmy therapy in chronic disease: a four-year prospective cohort study. BMC public health. 2007;7:61.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Glockmann A, et al. Anthroposophic medical therapy in chronic disease: a four-year prospective cohort study. BMC complementary and alternative medicine. 2007;7:10.

Jeschke E, Lüke C, Ostermann T, et al. Verordnungsverhalten anthroposophisch orientierter Ärzte bei akuten Infektionen der oberen Atemwege. Forschende Komplementärmedizin / Research in Complementary Medicine. 2007;14(4):207-215.

Esch BM, Marian F, Busato A, Heusser P. Patient satisfaction with primary care: an observational study comparing anthroposophic and conventional care. Health and quality of life outcomes. 2008;6:74.

Hamre HJ, Glockmann A, Troger W, et al. Assessing the order of magnitude of outcomes in single-arm cohorts through systematic comparison with corresponding cohorts: an example from the AMOS study. BMC medical research methodology. 2008;8:11.

Laengler A, Spix C, Seifert G, et al. Complementary and alternative treatment methods in children with cancer: A population-based retrospective survey on the prevalence of use in Germany.European journal of cancer. Oct 2008;44(15):2233-2240.

Deglon-Fischer A, Barth J, Ausfeld-Hafter B. [Complementary and alternative medicine in primary care in Switzerland]. Forschende Komplementarmedizin. Aug 2009;16(4):251-255.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Kienle GS, et al. Long-term outcomes of anthroposophic therapy for chronic low back pain: A two-year follow-up analysis. Journal of pain research. 2009;2:75-85.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Kienle GS, et al. Anthroposophic therapy for children with chronic disease: a two-year prospective cohort study in routine outpatient settings. BMC pediatrics. 2009;9:39.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Kienle GS, et al. Anthroposophic therapy for asthma: A two-year prospective cohort study in routine outpatient settings. Journal of asthma and allergy. 2009;2:111-128.

Jeschke E, Ostermann T, Tabali M, et al. Diagnostic profiles and prescribing patterns in everyday anthroposophic medical practice--a prospective multi-centre study. Forschende Komplementarmedizin. Oct 2009;16(5):325-333.

Jeschke E, Ostermann T, Vollmar HC, et al. Evaluation of prescribing patterns in a German network of CAM physicians for the treatment of patients with hypertension: a prospective observational study. BMC family practice. 2009;10:78.

Busato H-PSA. Ist ärztliche Komplementärmedizin wirtschaftlich? Schweizerische Ärztezeitung|Bulletin des médecins suisses |Bollettino dei medici svizzeri |2010;91: 18. 2010.

Hamre H, Witt CM, Kienle GS, et al. Anthroposophic therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity: A two-year prospective study in outpatients. International journal of general medicine. 2010:239.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Glockmann A, et al. Health costs in patients treated for depression, in patientswith depressive symptoms treated for another chronic disorder, and in nondepressed patients: a two-year prospective cohort study in anthroposophic outpatient settings. The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care. Feb 2010;11(1):77-94.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Kienle GS, et al. Predictors of outcome after 6 and 12 months following anthroposophic therapy for adult outpatients with chronic disease: a secondary analysis from a prospective observational study. BMC research notes. 2010;3:218.

Hamre HJ, Witt CM, Kienle GS, et al. Anthroposophic therapy for migraine: a two-year prospective cohort study in routine outpatient settings. The open neurology journal. 2010;4:100-110.

Jeschke E, Ostermann T, Tabali M, et al. Anthroposophic medicine in pediatric primary care: a prospective, multicenter observational study on prescribing patterns. Altern Ther Health Med. Mar-Apr 2011;17(2):18-28.

Jeschke E, Ostermann T, Vollmar HC, et al. Prescribing patterns in dementia: a multicentre observational study in a German network of CAM physicians. BMC neurology. 2011;11:99.

Jeschke E, Ostermann T, Vollmar HC, et al. Depression, Comorbidities, and Prescriptions of Antidepressants in a German Network of GPs and Specialists with Subspecialisation in Anthroposophic Medicine: A Longitudinal Observational Study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. 2012;2012:508623.

Klein SD, Frei-Erb M, Wolf U. Usage of complementary medicine across Switzerland: results of theSwiss Health Survey 2007. Swiss medical weekly. 2012;142:w13666.

Simões-Wüst AP, Jeschke E, Mennet M, et al. Prescribing pattern of Bryophyllum preparations among a network of anthroposophic physicians. Forschende Komplementarmedizin. 2012;19(6):293-301.

Langler A, Zuzak TJ. Complementary and alternative medicine in paediatrics in daily practice-a European perspective. Complementary therapies in medicine. Apr 2013;21 Suppl 1:S26-33.

Schad F, Axtner J, Happe A, et al. Palliative care in patients with advandced lung cancer in a network of health service research in integrative oncology. Journal of Clinical Oncology 31 (suppl.):e20710. 2013.

Schad F, Axtner J, Happe A, et al. Network Oncology (NO) – a clinical cancer register for health services research and the evaluation of integrative therapeutic interventions in anthroposophic medicine. Forschende Komplementarmedizin. 2013;20(5):353-360.

Zuzak TJ, Bonkova J, Careddu D, et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine by children in Europe: published data and expert perspectives. Complementary therapies in medicine.Apr 2013;21 Suppl 1:S34-47.

Happe A, Kroz M, Matthes H, et al. Safety of Intravenous Application of Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) Preparations in Oncology: An Observational Study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. 2014;2014:236310.

Koster EB, Ong RR, Heybroek R, et al. The consumer quality index anthroposophic healthcare: a construction and validation study. BMC health services research. 2014;14:148.

Ozturk C, Karatas H, Langler A, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine in pediatrics in Turkey. World J Pediatr. Nov 2014;10(4):299-305.

Rosenzweig S, Heckenbach K, Ostermann T, et al. Medication and falls in elderly outpatients: an epidemiological study from a German Pharmacovigilance Network. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. 2014;3:483.

Simões-Wüst AP, Rist L, Dettling M. Self-reported health characteristics and medication consumption by CAM users and nonusers: a Swiss cross-sectional survey. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine. Jan 2014;20(1):40-47.

Sundberg T, Hök J, Finer D, et al. Evidence-informed integrative care systems – the way forward.European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2014;6(1):12-20.

Altin S, Passon A, Kautz-Freimuth S, et al. A qualitative study on barriers to evidence-based practice in patient counseling and advocacy in Germany. BMC health services research. Aug 11 2015;15:317.

Brettschneider C, Luck T, Fleischer S, et al. Cost-utility analysis of a preventive home visit program for older adults in Germany. BMC health services research. 2015;15:141.

Steele ML, Axtner J, Happe A, et al. Use and Safety of Intratumoral Application of European Mistletoe (Viscum album L) Preparations in Oncology. Integrative cancer therapies. Mar 2015;14(2):140-148.

Sundberg T, Hussain-Alkhateeb L, Falkenberg T. Usage and cost of first-line drugs for patients referred to inpatient anthroposophic integrative care or inpatient conventional care for stress-related mental disorders – a register based study. BMC complementary and alternative medicine. Oct 14 2015;15:354.

Axtner J, Steele M, Kroz M, et al. Health services research of integrative oncology in palliative careof patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. BMC cancer. 2016;16:579.

Zuzak TJ. Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Children in Italy - A Status Quo. Int J Complement Alt Med 2016, 4(1): 00102. 2016.

Simões-Wüst AP, Molto-Puigmarti C, Jansen EH, et al. Organic food consumption during pregnancy and its association with health-related characteristics: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study.Public Health Nutr. Jun 19 2017:1-12.

Simões-Wüst AP, Molto-Puigmarti C, van Dongen MC, et al. Organic food consumption during pregnancy is associated with different consumer profiles, food patterns and intake: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study. Public Health Nutr. May 31 2017:1-11.HSR related publication with information regarding anthroposophic life-style and/or anthroposophic medicine generated by institutions outside the anthroposophic community

Busato A, Donges A, Herren S, et al. Health status and health care utilisation of patients in complementary and conventional primary care in Switzerland – an observational study. Family practice. Feb 2006;23(1):116-124.

Widmer M, Donges A, Wapf V, et al. The supply of complementary and alternative medicine in Swiss hospitals. Forschende Komplementarmedizin. Dec 2006;13(6):356-361.

Ben-Arye E, Ali-Shtayeh MS, Nejmi M, et al. Integrative oncology research in the Middle East: weaving traditional and complementary medicine in supportive care. Support Care Cancer. Mar 2012;20(3):557-564.

Ben-Arye E, Steiner M, Karkabi K, et al. Barriers to integration of traditional and complementary medicine in supportive cancer care of arab patients in northern Israel. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. 2012;2012:401867.

Ben-Arye E, Schiff E, Levy M, et al. Barriers and challenges in integration of anthroposophic medicine in supportive breast cancer care. SpringerPlus. 2013;2:364.

Bystrom E, Lindstrand A, Likhite N, et al. Parental attitudes and decision-making regarding MMR vaccination in an anthroposophic community in Sweden – a qualitative study. Vaccine. Nov 28 2014;32(50):6752-6757.

Klomp JH, van Lier A, Ruijs WL. Vaccination coverage for measles, mumps and rubella in anthroposophical schools in Gelderland, The Netherlands. European journal of public health. Jun 2015;25(3):501-505.

Rossi E, Vita A, Baccetti S, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine for cancer patients:results of the EPAAC survey on integrative oncology centres in Europe. Support Care Cancer.Jun 2015;23(6):1795-1806.