Interdisciplinary perspectives on health policy and practice - Jane Robinson

In the rapidly changing context of contemporary health care, there is a need to explore the influence of competing and complimentary theoretical perspectives on everyday policy and practice. This unique text draws together four leading contributors to explore the range of ideas, which inform their thinking. The discussion draws upon their own empirical and theoretical research in health policy and practice, as well as their personal experiences as health care practitioners and researchers. Together they provide historical, international, national and philosophical perspectives to illuminate the global political and cultural context of health care. Although their insights are different, the authors are united in a critical approach to their subject matter. By their shared commitment to ongoing discussion and debate, the authors illustrate how competing interests can, ultimately, contribute to a critical understanding of healthcare policy and practice. Through this unique dialogue, they demonstrate the importance of interdisciplinarity as a means of deriving both critical and provisional models of good practice and policy in health care.