[The self-help groups' need for support as seen by the participants].
BACKGROUND
Since section 20(4) of the revised German Social Code Book V became effective in 2001, German statutory health insurance providers are obliged to support self-help groups (SHG) financially. Additionally, public health services in North Rhine-Westphalia have--according to the "Law for Public Health Services"--to establish district health conferences (DHC) designed to coordinate medical and social care. The DHC of the district of Wesel (population;500,000) decided to choose the "coordination of health-related SHG" as their first topic. In this framework the aim of the study was to quantify the need for development and promotion of health-related SHG from the perspective of SHG.


METHODS
Collection of primary data in 120 SHG in the district of Wesel by a questionnaire with a return of 77 analysable answers (Rate 64 %).


RESULTS
From the perspective of SHG in the district of Wesel a need for assistance/promotion exists primarily in: Training group leaders, chairman (55% of the entries), recruitment/placement of experts (53% of the entries, and public relation/"Advertisement" (52% of the entries. In the first place, a need for development is seen in an improvement of cooperation with the professional sector, especially with office-based physicians


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study quantify and specify SHGs' need for support on district level from the perspective of SHG. These results can be used for local public health policy and health planning.
D005858:Germany; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011634:Public Health; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires