FRIBOURG, SWITZERLAND, September 28th 2018: Integrating anthroposophic treatments into conventional care for hospitalised children can improve results from the perspective of both parents and clinicians without adding to costs, according an implementation report involving children suffering from respiratory illnesses in Fribourg Hospital, Switzerland.
Among surveyed parents, 96% were mostly or very satisfied with the anthroposophic approach and felt that the additional treatments had helped their child’s recovery. Nurses also reported better outcomes for the children receiving anthroposophic care, including calmer sleep, less coughing and improved breathing.
“These promising outcomes indicate that wider uptake of anthroposophic therapies has the potential to benefit patients and practitioners alike,” said Tido von Schoen-Angerer, a paediatrician with anthroposophic training, and the report’s lead author. “The anthroposophic approach of treating the ‘whole person’ is more satisfying for both clinicians and those in their care.”
The 18-month pilot involved 351 children hospitalised with bronchiolitis, asthma and pneumonia. Among them, 136 received complementary treatment involving anthroposophic medicines, chest compresses and inhalations.
Existing medical staff at Fribourg Hospital were trained in anthroposophic techniques in order to participate in the pilot. Parents were also encouraged to participate in care, for example by applying chest compresses. Importantly, the cost of training was almost completely offset by increased insurance reimbursements during the pilot phase, suggesting that start-up expenses for similar programmes could be easily offset.
A centre for integrative paediatrics has now been created in the wake of the successful pilot, to expand the offer of anthroposophic treatments in both inpatient and outpatient paediatric care.
The implementation report is published in the October 2018 issue of the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine, and is accessible here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229917306908
For further inquiries, contact:
Elisa Baldini, Secretary General of IVAA
About IVAA
The IVAA, or International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations, promotes the recognition of Anthroposophic Medicine and its implementation in health care systems. Our vision is a world where the benefits of anthroposophic medicine are widely recognised, and where patients and doctors have ready access to anthroposophic medicines and treatments, in full integration with conventional medicine.
