Related Experiment Videos
[The self-help groups' need for support as seen by the participants]
R Rau1, V Grunow-Lutter, M Geraedts
1Kreis Wesel, Fachbereich Gesundheitswesen, Moers.
Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband Der Arzte Des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany))
|September 25, 2003
Summary
Health-related self-help groups (SHG) need more support in training leaders and public relations. Improved cooperation with physicians is also a key development area for these groups.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Community Health
Background:
- German Social Code Book V mandates financial support for self-help groups (SHG) since 2001.
- District Health Conferences (DHC) are established to coordinate medical and social care.
- The DHC of Wesel prioritized coordinating health-related SHG.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the need for development and promotion of health-related SHG.
- To gather insights from the perspective of SHG members.
- To inform local public health policy and planning.
Main Methods:
- Primary data collected via questionnaire from 120 SHG in Wesel.
- 77 analysable responses received, yielding a 64% return rate.
- Data analysis focused on SHG-identified needs for support and development.
Main Results:
- Key areas for assistance include training group leaders/chairmen (55%) and expert recruitment/placement (53%).
- Public relations and "Advertisement" were identified as needs by 52% of SHG.
- Improvement in cooperation with the professional sector, particularly office-based physicians, is a primary development need.
Conclusions:
- This study quantifies and specifies the support needs of SHG at the district level.
- Findings provide a data-driven basis for local public health policy and health planning.
- The results highlight the importance of integrating SHG perspectives into health service coordination.