Self-Help Friendliness as Quality Target in the SHI Health Care.

OBJECTIVES: The article discusses different possibilities to integrate a sustainable co-operation with self-help groups within the framework of the obligatory quality management in SHI-physicians' establishments. The results of a pilot study, which was conducted to develop a model project "self-help friendly doctor's offices", are presented and discussed. METHODS: Until now the subject has been being rarely discussed in the scientific literature. Therefore, we carried out an extensive internet research and document analysis of available quality management systems (QMS). Furthermore, the representatives of the QMS were asked to assess both the current status of integration and prospective chances of including "self-help Friendliness" as a core element of quality. RESULTS: We could identify 2 generic and 5 specific QMS concerning ambulatory medical care which all offer the chance to integrate "self-help Friendliness" as a quality criterion. The concept of "self-help friendly doctor's offices" also found great acceptance with the representatives of the QMS. As a side effect of the QMS-expert-interviews, 3 of them announced that they would include this aspect in the current development of the quality objectives and criteria of their QMS. CONCLUSION: The criterion "self-help friendliness" is principally capable of being integrated in several QMS. However, the further development of the approach needs answers to different questions (e.g., hierarchy of quality criteria), and a test period with all parties involved. Parallel processes in the health-care system as well as the political regulation of quality management in health-care are of great importance for a successful implementation of "self-help friendliness".