Patient university

The ageing of society and the increase in chronic diseases mean that more and more people are in constant contact with health insurance companies, hospitals, physicians and other professional groups and Facilities or Institutions in the healthcare sector. In order to be able to act as equal partners and advocate for their interests, they need the ability to find, understand, reflect on and implement information on health issues. This ability is summarized under the term "health literacy". Current studies show that many people in Germany have difficulties in this area. This is why the Patient University is committed to promoting people's health literacy through various measures. With this in mind, the Patient University at Hannover Medical School has established an independent educational program.

Further information can be found on the homepage of the Patient University: www.patienten-universitaet.de.

In addition, the Patient University is part of the INSEA national network “Healthy and Active Living.” The goal of this network is to offer and expand a self-management program for people with chronic illnesses in Germany. The program consists of a standardized course with a fixed curriculum and an evaluated companion book, based on the proven “Chronic Disease Self-Management Program” (CDSMP) from Stanford University (USA). The “Healthy and Active Living” courses were brought to Germany from Switzerland on the initiative and with the support of the EVIVO Netzwerk e. V. association. INSEA is funded by BARMER and DAG SHG (German Association of Self-Help Groups). The “Healthy and Active Living” self-management program is cross-disease, meaning it is suitable for both people with physical and many with mental health conditions. People who are able and interested in spending two and a half hours at a time with others once a week, over a total period of six weeks, are eligible to participate.

A prerequisite for the successful implementation of the program and for its widespread dissemination is also that interested individuals, with and without chronic illnesses, are recruited and trained as course leaders. They should be able to co-lead a course in tandem with another course leader trained within the project. Course leaders - that is, individuals who are open to others and capable of conducting a course with social competence - are trained by two certified trainers in four-day courses.

The National Coordination Office is managed by DAG SHG. The Patient University is one of the implementation sites that conducts the self-management program “Living Healthy and Active” both online and in person. Further information can be found at www.insea-aktiv.de