title: Patients' advocates and counselors: Perceived needs in education and training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since there is a lack of knowledge on the occupational needs of patient representatives (PRs) and counselors (PCs), we performed a study eliciting perceived skills and informational needs in evidence-based medicine (EbM) and health economics (HE) and investigated preferences for training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews and an online survey were conducted among PRs and PCs in Germany. Questions covered perceived skills and informational needs in EbM and HE and preferences for training in both fields. Interview data was analyzed using the grounded theory method. Survey results were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine personal interviews, one group discussion and 50 survey forms were analyzed. Respondents reported better skills in EbM compared to HE but felt a need for training in both fields. Important barriers mentioned were difficulties in reading scientific articles written in English and understanding statistics. Preferences for training included regionally widespread offers, availability of refresher classes, and a mixture of presence-based and online courses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRs and PCs perceive a considerable need for formal training in EbM and HE and have clear expectations of the format and design.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trainings in EbM and HE could help to enhance patient and public involvement (PPI) in Germany.
authors: Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital Cologne, Gleueler Straße 176-178, 50935 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: stephanie.stock@uk-koeln.de.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Stock
authors: Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital Cologne, Gleueler Straße 176-178, 50935 Köln, Germany.
authors: Sibel
authors: S
authors: Altin
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witten Herdecke, Center for Integrative Medicine, Gerhard Kienle Institute for Medical Theory, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine, Gerhard Kienle Weg 4, D-58313 Herdecke, Germany.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Palmowski
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witten Herdecke, Center for Integrative Medicine, Gerhard Kienle Institute for Medical Theory, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine, Gerhard Kienle Weg 4, D-58313 Herdecke, Germany.
authors: Bettina
authors: B
authors: Berger
authors: Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), Wegelystr. 8, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Passon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000072117:Counselors / Q000193:education*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000193:education*; D010358:Patient Participation
keywords: Education; Evidence-based medicine; Health literacy; Patient advocates; Patient counselor; Patient representative; Training