Die Rolle der gemeinschaftlichen Selbsthilfe in der Weiterentwicklung der Gesundheitskompetenz der Bevölkerung

From Surviving to Living (on): A Grounded Theory Study on Coping in People with Pancreatic Cancer

Little research has been conducted on the experience of pancreatic cancer from a patient's perspective. Several factors suggest that trajectory models of chronic illness or other cancers cannot be applied to pancreatic cancer. Within this grounded theory study, 26 problem-centred interviews were conducted with people with pancreatic cancer from Germany. A cancer-specific trajectory model was developed, depicting both curative and palliative courses. Two successive phases form the core: Immediately after diagnosis, there is an acute phase in which patients focus on mere survival, attempt to overcome the short-term consequences of pancreatic cancer and search for information. This initial phase is followed by a circular phase of living on with pancreatic cancer, characterized by adaptation to the long-term consequences of the disease and a repeated experience of fear of recurrence or progression and threat in the context of follow-up examinations. Understanding disease trajectories from a patient's perspective enables health professionals better to understand patients' needs, concerns, and fears and better support them in coping. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00020251, 13.01.2020.

[Germany-Wide Survey on Networking and Cooperation Between Rehabilitation and Self-Help (VERS 2.0): An Overview of Opinions, Contacts and Cooperation of Rehabilitation Institutions in View of Self-Help]

PURPOSE

The study aims to present opinions and knowledge of rehabilitation facilities in Germany about self-help (SH) and to identify initial structures and contacts in the networking of rehabilitation and SH.

METHODS

The study is a quantitative observational study. The data were collected cross-sectionally by means of an online survey. Rehabilitation facilities in Germany were included. The convenience sample was collected using different approaches. The questionnaire is based on the survey on "Cooperation and networking of rehabilitation facilities and self-help groups/self-help organisations" (VERS) conducted by the University of Freiburg in 2002.

RESULTS

101 rehabilitation facilities across all 16 German federal states took part in the survey. The survey revealed a positive attitude towards SH and a high proportion of rehabilitation facilities that regularly inform about SH (76.2%) and maintain contacts with self-help associations/self-help clearing houses (74.3%). Information deficits regarding the specific experiences of self-help associations, the working and organisational forms of SH as well as the support opportunities of SH became apparent.

CONCLUSION

To strengthen the networking of rehabilitation and SH, information gaps should be closed and transparency and structural conditions for cooperation should be created. The stronger integration of knowledge about SH in educational structures in the health sector, which is desired by the institutions, can be purposeful in the future.

Selbsthilfe und Gesundheitskompetenz während der Corona-Pandemie: Ergebnisse der qualitativen GeMSeHeCo-Studie

Hintergrund

Die Pandemie stellt Menschen mit Beeinträchtigung vor vielfältige Herausforderungen, insbesondere auch beim Umgang mit Gesundheitsinformationen. Bislang ist nur wenig über die Rolle der Selbsthilfe bei der Förderung der Gesundheitskompetenz ihrer Mitglieder während der Pandemie bekannt.

Methodik

Der Studie „Gesundheitskompetenz von Mitgliedern der Selbsthilfe: Herausforderungen durch die Corona-Pandemie (GeMSe^HeCo)“ liegt ein qualitatives Studiendesign zugrunde. Der Feldzugang erfolgte deutschlandweit über die Selbsthilfegruppen. Von Juli bis Oktober 2020 wurden N = 19 Telefoninterviews mit Vertreter*innen von Selbsthilfegruppen durchgeführt, transkribiert und inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Vertreter*innen der Selbsthilfe berichteten über Stärken und Schwächen der Mitglieder im Umgang mit Gesundheitsinformationen während der Corona-Pandemie. Schwächen wurden v. a. bei älteren Mitgliedern, Menschen mit niedrigem Bildungsniveau und mit Migrationshintergrund berichtet. Stärken beobachteten die Vertreter*innen bei langjährigen Mitgliedern und bei Mitgliedern, die sich zu ihrer Krankheit kontinuierlich weiterbilden.

Diskussion

Die Selbsthilfe wird während der Pandemie als wichtige Unterstützung der Mitglieder im Umgang mit Gesundheitsinformationen wahrgenommen. Ein Vorteil für die Mitglieder besteht insbesondere in der Prüfung und Zusammenstellung von Gesundheitsinformationen nach individuellen Bedarfen durch die Selbsthilfe. Herausforderungen können aufgrund von Sprach- und Verständnisschwierigkeiten entstehen, bspw. durch einen Migrationshintergrund. Der Ausbau von digitalen Angeboten hat sich in dieser Zeit als hilfreich erwiesen. Dabei sollte die Unterstützung vermehrt Ältere und Mitglieder mit geringen finanziellen Möglichkeiten berücksichtigen, da diese während der Pandemie weniger Zugang zu digitalen Angeboten aufweisen.

Preferences and Experiences of People with Chronic Illness in Using Different Sources of Health Information: Results of a Mixed-Methods Study

Background: People with chronic illness are particularly dependent on adequate health literacy (HL), but often report difficulties in accessing, understanding, appraising, and applying health information. To strengthen the HL of people with chronic illness, in-depth knowledge about how they deal with health information is crucial. Methods: To this end, quantitative data from the Second Health Literacy Survey Germany (HLS-GER 2) and qualitative data from seven focus group discussions were used to examine the interest in health information, preferred sources of information as well as experiences and challenges with information management among people with chronic illness. Results: The results show that people with chronic illness have a great interest in health information and use very different sources of health information, preferring personal information from physicians most. The results also point to several challenges in health information management that seem to be influenced by the illness duration as well as by the experiences made with the respective sources. Conclusions: Overall, the study provides important starting points for intervention development for the provision and communication of health-related information, but also to research on health information behavior and HL.

[Collective patient centeredness and patient involvement through self-help groups]

Over the last decades, health-related collective mutual aid, such as self-help groups, support groups and patient organizations, has become an important player in Germany's healthcare system. As autonomous collectives of patients and their relatives in manifold indication areas, they act and organize themselves on a voluntary basis. Increasingly, they have a greater say and are turning into collaborators in the development of the healthcare system. Self-help representatives are involved in committees as patient representatives on all political levels, national as well as federal state and local. In these roles they are also spokespersons for the interests of patients and their relatives.Self-help groups (SHGs) and self-help organizations (SHOs) are forming specific patient collectives that are seeking cooperation with the healthcare system. This article is about different forms and possibilities of inpatient and ambulatory healthcare institutions to achieve collective patient centeredness and patient involvement over and above individual patient centeredness. Furthermore, activities of SHGs and SHOs to promote their integration in healthcare structures are discussed.