THE COMPREHENSIVE 360° MODEL OF RESEARCH: ITS FOUNDATIONS AND EXEMPLARY APPLICATION IN SPINAL CORD INJURY

Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2025 · DOI: 10.2340/jrm.v57.42019 · Published: February 12, 2025

Simple Explanation

This paper presents the “360° Model of Research”, a novel approach to studying health that focuses on how well people function in their daily lives, especially when living with health conditions. Instead of just looking at disease symptoms or how long people live, this model puts the spotlight on functioning: how health conditions affect a person’s ability to live their life fully. The 360° Model is a step towards a new way of thinking about health, one that aims to improve the functioning of everyone, no matter their health challenges.

Study Duration

Over a decade

Participants

Individuals living with spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The 360° Model emphasizes functioning as a key health indicator, combining biological health with lived experience.
2
The Model provides a reference framework for data collection, but does not presume any particular explanatory theory about how lived experience is created or interpreted by the individual.
3
The 360° Model offers a transformative approach, highlighting the importance of functioning in health research.

Research Summary

This paper introduces the “360° Model of Research”, a novel framework designed to prioritize functioning as a primary health indicator, particularly for individuals living with health conditions. The 360° Model emphasizes functioning as a key health indicator, combining biological health with lived experience. The 360° Model offers a transformative approach, highlighting the importance of functioning in health research. It provides a robust foundation for a new interdisciplinary field of Human Functioning Sciences, aimed at optimizing health and well-being across diverse populations.

Practical Implications

Comprehensive Health Research

The 360° Model facilitates a comprehensive understanding of health by focusing on the lived experience of individuals.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The model promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating diverse scientific perspectives to address health needs.

Societal Responsibility

It underscores the societal responsibility to meet the health needs of individuals in a comprehensive and person-centered manner.

Study Limitations

1
The paper is conceptual and does not present new empirical data.
2
The model's applicability to diverse health conditions requires further validation.
3
The normative framework relies on agreed-upon values, which may vary across societies.

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