title: [Which distinguishing features characterize self-help groups? A grid for description and research].
abstract: There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of self-help groups. One research barrier is their heterogeneity. For this reason, characteristics of self-help groups were extracted by means of a conceptual review from three relevant fields of knowledge (outcome studies, health care supply research, practical experiences in implementing self-help groups). As a structure for the characteristics, QIP ("Quality in Prevention", an evidence-based quality assurance system for the assessment of health promotion and education) was used. The resulting taxonomy of 91 characteristics includes all distinguishing marks of self-help groups which, according to the evidence, may contribute to the groups' effectiveness. The methodological quality of evidence, however, was low (mostly expert-based opinion). The taxonomy may assist in systematic analyses of structural, procedural and outcome-quality, for example in evaluations or in health care supply studies.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Forschungsgruppe Versorgung und Qualität in der Prävention, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, Germany. t.kliche@uke.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kliche
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Touil
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome
vernacular_title: Was unterscheidet Selbsthilfegruppen? Ein Beschreibungs- und Forschungsraster.