Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Incompatibility Between Social Worlds in Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The Case of Therapeutic Touch

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Part of the book series: Health, Technology and Society ((HTE))

  • 607 Accesses

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is on how, in the context of a controversy over therapeutic touch (TT) research in a Finnish university nursing department, different actors from different social worlds understood therapeutic touch and other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities, and what these different understandings made of knowledge, science and technology. The documentary material, discussions in newspapers and in popular, professional and scientific journals revealed five social worlds: scepticism, medicine, nursing research, nursing and TT—with patients as silent implicated actors. The analysis demonstrates that to see CAM only in juxtaposition with medicine is to oversimplify the situation by neglecting the variety of actors involved in defining CAM and disregarding the multiple meanings of CAM controversies and their impact on various stakeholders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    During the 1980s, nursing was institutionalised in seven Finnish universities. This was soon reduced to five, which continue their nursing programmes today. A special characteristic of Finland compared with other countries (Spitzer and Perrenoud 2006) is that professional nurses are not educated at universities but at the lower-level polytechnic institutes. University nursing curricula are intended to provide further education for nurses to become teachers, administrators and researchers, and to develop nursing research (Laiho 2012).

References

  • Brosnan, C. (2015). “Quackery” in the academy? Professional knowledge, autonomy and the debate over complementary medicine degrees. Sociology, 49(6), 1047–1064.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell, E. F. (2017). Quackademia? Mass-media delegitimation of homeopathy education. Science as Culture. https://doi.org/10.1080/09505431.2017.1316253

  • Capra, F. (1975). The Tao of physics: An exploration of the parallels between modern physics and eastern mysticism. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, J., Hagemaster, J., & Joiner, B. (1998). To the editor. An even closer look at therapeutic touch. JAMA, 280(22), 1905.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, V. A., & Casper, M. J. (2000). Hormone mimics and disrupted bodies: Social worlds analysis of a scientific controversy. Sociological Perspectives, (Suppl.),: S93–S120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, A., & Montini, T. (1993). The many faces of RU486: Tales of situated knowledges and technological contestations. Science, Technology & Human Values, 18(1), 42–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, A., & Star, S. L. (2008). The social worlds framework: A theory/methods package. In E. J. Hackett, O. Amsterdamska, M. Lynch, & J. Wajcman (Eds.), The handbook of science and technology studies (pp. 113–138). Cambridge, MA; London: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daley, B. (1997). Therapeutic touch, nursing practice and contemporary cutaneous wound healing research. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25, 1123–1132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derkatch, C. (2016). Bounding biomedicine: Evidence and rhetoric in the new science of alternative medicine. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fahnestock, J. (2009). The rhetoric of the natural sciences. In A. A. Lunsford, K. H. Wilson, & R. A. Eberly (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of rhetorical studies (pp. 175–195). Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington, DC: SAGE Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forstorp, P. (2005). The construction of pseudo-science: Science patrolling and knowledge policing by academic prefects and weeders. VEST, 18(3–4), 17–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrety, K. (1997). Social worlds, actor-networks and controversy: The case of cholesterol, dietary fat and heart disease. Social Studies of Science, 27(5), 727–773.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gieryn, T. F. (1999). Cultural boundaries of science: Credibility on the line. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Givati, A., & Hatton, K. (2015). Traditional acupuncturists and higher education in Britain: The dual, paradoxical impact of biomedical alignment on the holistic view. Social Science & Medicine, 131, 173–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henttonen, I. (1996, May 28). Health terror debated in Hämeenlinna. “Parseans” defend patient-centredness. Hämeen sanomat.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalkas, H. (1997). Ethical dilemma column “What are the ethics of research and teaching in nursing science like?” Sairaanhoitaja [Nurse], 70(2), 32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krieger, D. (1979). The therapeutic touch: How to use your hands to help or to heal. New York: Prentice Hall Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laiho, A. (2012). The evolving landscape of nursing science in the 21st century—The Finnish case. In P. Trowler, M. Saunders, & V. Bamber (Eds.), Tribes and territories in the 21st century: Rethinking the significance of disciplines in higher education (pp. 107–117). London and New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauri, S. (1996, June 20). Nursing respecting the patient not new. Helsingin sanomat.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyyra, T. (1997). Therapeutic touch? Tehy, 2, 40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meehan, T. C. (1998). Therapeutic touch as a nursing intervention. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 28(1), 117–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nieminen, H. (1996). Phenomenology, Parse and nursing science. Hoitotiede [Nursing Science], 8(3), 158–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieminen, P. (2008). Caught in the science trap? A case study of the relationship between nurses and “their” science. In J. Välimaa & O. Ylijoki (Eds.), Cultural perspectives on higher education (pp. 127–141). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nowotny, H. (1975). Controversies in science: Remarks on the different modes of production of knowledge and their use. Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 4(1), 34–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nursing Science Departmental Committee. (1996). Meeting minutes, 17 December. Nursing Science Departmental Committee, University of Tampere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ollikainen, M. (1996a). Humbug Award 1996: Humbug does not belong in nursing science: Interview with Professor Marita Paunonen. Skeptikko [Sceptic], 4(96), 12–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ollikainen, M. (1996b). Spiritual healing for nurses? Yliopisto [University], 20(96), 38–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Mathúna, D. (1998). Janforum: Feedback—Therapeutic touch. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 27(1), 230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Mathúna, D., Pryjmachuk, S., Spencer, W., Stanwick, M., & Matthiesen, S. (2002). A critical evaluation of the theory and practice of therapeutic touch. Nursing Philosophy, 3(2), 163–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rantala, S. (1997). Philosophical theory of nursing. Book review of parse: Illuminations. Tehy, 13, 52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rautajoki, A. (1993). An analysis and a redefinition of the concept Therapeutic Touch. Master’s thesis. University of Tampere, Department of Nursing Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rautajoki, A. (1996). Therapeutic touch. Helsinki: Kirjayhtymä.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rautajoki, A. (1997). Does nursing science scuttle its own teachings? Yliopisto [University], 2(97), 29–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosa, L., Rosa, E., Sarner, L., & Barrett, S. (1998). A close look at therapeutic touch. JAMA, 279(13), 1005–1010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Routasalo, P. (1997). Book review on Anja Rautajoki: Therapeutic touch. Sairaanhoitaja [Nurse], 70(2), 38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saano, V., & Puustinen, R. (1997a). Belief medication—The new direction for nursing? The example of therapeutic touch. Suomen lääkärilehti [Finnish Medical Journal] 18–19, 2306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saano, V., & Puustinen, R. (1997b). Humbug-awarded nursing teaching from the United States. Skeptikko [Sceptic], 1(97), 30–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Segal, J. Z. (2009). Rhetoric of health and medicine. In A. A. Lunsford, K. H. Wilson, & R. A. Eberly (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of rhetorical studies (pp. 227–245). Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington, DC: SAGE Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibutani, T. (1955). Reference groups as perspectives. American Journal of Sociology, 60(6), 562–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer, A., & Perrenoud, B. (2006). Reforms in nursing education across Western Europe: Implementation processes and current status. Journal of Professional Nursing, 22(3), 162–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Statement. (1996). Humbug Award 1996 (Author unknown). Skeptikko [Sceptic], 4(96), 10–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A. (1978). A social world perspective. Studies in Symbolic Interaction, 1, 119–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. G., Clark, A. J., Gauthier, D. K., & Williams, M. (1998). The effect of therapeutic touch on pain and anxiety in burn patients. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 28(1), 10–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unruh, D. R. (1979). Characteristics and types of participation in social worlds. Symbolic Interaction, 2(2), 115–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venäläinen, R. (1997). Theories are being argued over at the department of nursing science: Is the student’s legal protection in danger? Aviisi [Student Journal], 3(97), 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuolanto, P. (2013). Boundary-work and the vulnerability of academic status: The case of Finnish nursing science. Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 1867. Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuolanto, P. (2015). Boundary work and power in the controversy over therapeutic touch in Finnish nursing science. Minerva, 53(4), 359–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vuolanto, P. (2017). The universities’ transformation thesis revisited: A case study of the relationship between nursing science and society. Science and Technology Studies, 30(2), 34–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster, A. (2007). Health, technology and society: A sociological critique. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, S. (2010). Lay knowledge: The missing middle of the expertise debates. In R. Harris, N. Wathen, & S. Wyatt (Eds.), Configuring health consumers: Health work and the imperative of personal responsibility (pp. 45–64). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wirth, D. P., Richardson, J. T., Eidelman, W. S., & O’Malley, A. C. (1993). Full thickness dermal wounds treated with non-contact therapeutic touch: A replication and extension. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 1(3), 127–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt, S., Harris, R., & Wathen, N. (2010). Health(y) citizenship: Technology, work and narratives of responsibility. In R. Harris, N. Wathen, & S. Wyatt (Eds.), Configuring health consumers: Health work and the imperative of personal responsibility (pp. 1–10). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    Pia Vuolanto

Authors
  1. Pia Vuolanto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

    Caragh Brosnan

  2. School of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    Pia Vuolanto

  3. Department of Sociology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    Jenny-Ann Brodin Danell

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Vuolanto, P. (2018). The Incompatibility Between Social Worlds in Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The Case of Therapeutic Touch. In: Brosnan, C., Vuolanto, P., Danell, JA. (eds) Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Health, Technology and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73939-7_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73939-7_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-73938-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-73939-7

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation