[Recruitment and activation of members in self-help organisations. Results of a survey of self-help organisations at the national level].
The majority of the German population can envisage a membership in self-help groups or organisations when this should become relevant. As a matter of fact, only relatively few people are attending joint self-help activities. However, a significant number of members is important for self-help organisations (SHO) for self-organisation, lobbyism and (political) influence. Many SHOs in Germany are dissatisfied with their membership development and are therefore looking for better recruitment and activation strategies. The project "Activating Potentials for Joint Self-help Activities" (funded by the statutory health insurance fund BKK BV 10/2006-04/2009) is a participative collaboration between scientists, practitioners and SHO representatives to develop strategies and methods to promote access to joint self-help activities. In co-operation with the BAG SELBSTHILFE (a National HCPO Alliance) and the NAKOS (the National Clearing House for the Encouragement and Support of Self-Help Groups) 322 boards of national level SHOs were contacted in late 2007 and asked to complete a questionnaire on membership development, recruitment strategies and measures to activate members for voluntary commitment. 50% returned the questionnaire. The results were fed back in a transfer workshop in August 2008 and discussed with 60 representatives of SHOs. Their views are integrated in this paper. Despite all claimed stagnation or decline in membership development, the results show stability or increases over the last two years. Furthermore, the majority of SHOs was founded from the 1990 s until today, specifically in the areas of rare and chronic diseases. This development is based on a better socio-political recognition and promotion of self-help activities, self-help groups and SHOs as well as in better communication technologies. The views on the co-operation between SHOs and social service and health care providers are controversial: Positive and negative experience is more or less balanced. Then the openness and self-reflection of the workshop and survey participants is remarkable. In the context of a growing patient orientation in the health-care system participative co-operation in research and development will become more meaningful.
Kofahl
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C
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Institut für Medizin-Soziologie, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg. kofahl@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Mnich
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E
Staszczukova
P
P
Hollmann
J
J
Trojan
A
A
Kohler
S
S
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004493:Education; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014600:Utilization Review