[Self-help groups--helping others is helping oneself].
In the meantime, self-help groups have developed into a established pillar within the health system. It has been shown that the patients involved benefit from such groups in terms of both secondary and tertiary prevention. And physicians, too, can profit from the wealth of experience gained by self-help groups. From this source, they can obtain useful insights into the particular problems of their patients that go well beyond what is possible in the office setting. Despite the proven positive effect for patients participating in such self-help groups, their financial support with public funds or social insurance carriers is not forthcoming.
Straka
C
C
Interne Klinik Dr. Argirov, Kempfenhausen am Starnberger See. cstraka@schoen.kliniken.de
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D009313:National Health Programs; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support