Anthroposophic healthcare (AH), a form of integrative healthcare, has provided practical meaning to concepts such as preventive and curative health promotion instead of or in addition to fighting disease, encouraging patient competence, self-direction, self-management, exercising restraint in the use of medication and an equal relationship between the patient and healthcare provider.

AH exists since the beginning of the last century and has built up a high level of patient appreciation and a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise, but is behind in terms of contemporary standards of professionalism.
Governments, health insurers and healthcare institutions are increasingly demanding more evidence of its efficacy, safety and quality, both nationally and internationally. In many cases, sufficient scientific evidence cannot be produced on AH. The consequence of this is that the availability of anthroposophic therapies is being compromised. The pressure to provide sufficient evidence has affected AH significantly in recent years. Meanwhile, this research is high on national and international policy agendas. Since 2007, the professorship AH has been fully integrated at the University of Applied Sciences Leiden. The University of Applied Sciences Leiden is an obvious choice because of its historical connection to education inspired by anthroposophy (including art therapy, among others).

The professorship Anthroposophic Healthcare (AH) is the only research group in the Netherlands which focuses on the knowledge domain of anthroposophic healthcare. Thanks to an international network including conventional and anthroposophic research institutions engaged in research into AH, the professorship has access to the most recent (international) knowledge and studies. The professorship works closely with those in the AH professional field and works on practical problems using applied research which focuses on three main categories:

• demonstrating efficacy and safety,
• developing and delivering optimal quality, and
• improving communication about AH.

The expertise of the professorship -in collaboration with other research groups from the University of Applied Sciences Leiden- is also used to contribute to education in AH (especially the course in art therapy at the University of Applied Science Leiden) and to help solve the current problems in (conventional) healthcare, which is facing major challenges. Cuts are needed, but not at the expense of quality, accessibility and the innovation of care. This leads to developments in the direction of: health promotion, the introduction of 'stepped care' ('first lighter treatment methods in primary care'), reducing the use of medication and promoting patient competence and self-management.

Vision on research
Anthroposophic Healthcare