The Professional Connection with Self-Help Groups in Health Care Settings

1983 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Lurie ◽  
Lawrence Shulman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Settings ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Self Help Groups

scholarly journals KOKON: A Germany-Wide Collaborative Research Project to Identify Needs, Provide Information, Foster Communication and Support Decision-Making about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Oncology

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Güthlin ◽  
Hans-Helge Bartsch ◽  
Stefanie Joos ◽  
Alfred Längler ◽  
Claudia Lampert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Knowledge Database ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
Self Help Groups ◽  
Support Decision Making

Background: The German Cancer Aid set up a priority research programme with the intention to generate high-quality information based on evidence and to make this information easily accessible for health-care professionals and advisors, researchers, patients, and the general public. Summary: The Kompetenznetz Komplementärmedizin in der Onkologie (KOKON) received 2 funding periods within this programme. During the first funding period, KOKON assessed patients’ and health-care professionals’ informational needs, developed a consulting manual for physicians, developed an education programme for self-help groups, set up a knowledge database, and developed a pilot information website for patients. Funding period 2 continues with work that allows cancer patients and health-care professionals to make informed decisions about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). For this aim, KOKON evaluates training programmes for physicians (oncology physicians, paediatric oncologists, and general practitioners) and for self-help groups. All training programmes integrate results from an analysis of the ethical, psychological, and medical challenges of CAM in the medical encounter, and the knowledge database is being extended with issues related to CAM for supportive and palliative care. Key Message: A Germany-wide collaborative research project to identify needs, provide information, foster communication, and support decision-making about CAM in oncology is being set up.

The role of self-help groups in chronic illness management: A qualitative study

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay Coppa ◽  
Frances M Boyle
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Illness Management ◽  
Group Leaders ◽  
Self Help ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Self Help Groups

Self-help groups offer a unique form of support based on mutual understanding and the experiential knowledge of members. They constitute a potentially valuable resource for assisting people to manage chronic illness and its impacts. We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 members and the leaders of five chronic illness-related self-help groups in Newcastle, New South Wales. The focus was on small, voluntary groups with little or no external funding; agencies that are often overlooked in terms of their contribution to the health care system. Those interviewed readily identified benefits relating to quality of life, illness management, and interactions with health care professionals. Increased emotional and social support, access to an expanded information base, a better understanding of their illness, and a greater sense of confidence and control in relation to it seemed to enhance the capacity of members to engage in active self-management of their conditions. Along with such benefits, group leaders also highlighted some of the challenges faced by volunteers who run these agencies. Self-help groups are effective structures that can serve as an adjunct to clinical care and provide tangible benefits to their members. Further investigation and better recognition of these groups is warranted given their potential to assist those with chronic illness and to contribute to national policy objectives for chronic disease management such as those identified in the Sharing Health Care Initiative.

The views of professional on the role of self-help groups in the mental health area

1999 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 84-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A Dunn ◽  
Aine C Fitzpatric
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Self Help Groups ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjectives: Changes in healthcare policy over the last decade emphasise care in the community over residential care. Self-help organisations may play a useful role in these circumstances. Against this background, the objective of this study was to obtain the views of members of the main mental health professions on the place of self-help groups in mental health care.Method: A postal survey of 255 mental health professionals from two health boards was carried out, using a semi-structured questionnaire that contained both open and closed questions. The responses obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis as appropriate.Results: The response rate was 35% so results must be interpreted cautiously. Self-help groups are used particularly in the management of addictive behaviours, and are also considered useful in cases of mood disorder. In general, self-help organisations are seen as providing support to patients and their families; information on mental illness/health to the general public; and lobbying for services relevant to the needs of their members. Respondents were concerned that the philosophy and programme of a group should not conflict with established models of mental health. The impact of the organisational structure of the multi-disciplinary team on the referral pattern of the different mental health professions, and the role of group availability and accessibility on the decision to refer a patient to a self-help group is commented upon.Conclusions: While some professionals see a role for self-help organisations in the mental health care system, reservations expressed about a possible clash between selfhelp groups' approach and professional mental healthcare practice need to be addressed so that the potential of both positions can be realised.

ASSESSING THE NEEDS AND STRENGTHS OF SELF-HELP GROUPS: OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET HEALTH CARE NEEDS

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 103-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
SCOTT WITUK ◽  
SARAH EALEY ◽  
LOUIS BROWN ◽  
MATTHEW SHEPHERD ◽  
GREG MEISSEN
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Self Help Groups

Understanding Challenges, Strategies, and the Role of Support Networks in Medication Self-management Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerda Bernhard ◽  
Dominik Ose ◽  
Ines Baudendistel ◽  
Hanna M. Seidling ◽  
Marion Stützle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Medication Regimen ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Self Help Groups

Purpose The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the challenges and strategies of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) regarding daily management of their medication regimen focusing on the role of their support networks. Methods A purposeful sample of 25 patients with T2DM was recruited from local self-help groups, general practitioner practices, and a university hospital in southwestern Germany. Four semi-structured focus groups were conducted to identify the challenges patients experienced, the strategies they used, and their collaboration with support networks to assist them in self-managing their medication regimen. Sessions were audio- and video-recorded, fully transcribed, and subjected to computer-aided qualitative content analysis, guided by the Self- and Family Management Framework (SFMF). Results Patients with T2DM experienced numerous challenges affecting medication self-management arising from their personal situation, health status and resources, characteristics of their regimen, and how health care is currently organized. Patients’ self-initiated strategies included activating health care, community, social, and online resources; taking ownership of medication-related needs; and integrating medication-taking into daily life. Patients drew on self-help groups, family, and friends to discuss concerns regarding medication safety and receive experience-based information and advice for navigating within the health care system as well as practical hands-on support with daily medication self-management. Conclusions Understanding the challenges and building on strategies patients with T2DM devised help diabetes educators to better address patients’ needs and priorities and guide patient-centered interventions to support patients’ self-management activities. Community and social support networks operating in patients’ lives need to be engaged in the self-management support.

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