Mutual self-help as genuine health promotion!?. Analysis of the relation based on policy papers and joint practice.

摘要

Background. Mutual self-help is said to have huge potentials for health promotion. Simultaneously there is an impression of a shortage of systematic mutual referencing and practice. Objectives. The mutual referencing of health promotion and mutual self-help is analysed on the goal-setting and practice levels. Potentials, prerequisites and limits of increased cooperation of health promotion initiatives and mutual self-help are discussed. Materials and methods. Data sources of the document and literature analysis are policy papers, anthologies, magazines, conference documents and documented projects of health promotion agencies and self-help organizations in German-speaking countries. Categorization of the mutual referencing is guided by a 3x5 matrix of health promotion strategies and action areas. Results. Explicit referencing at the goal-setting level and practice level was found in nine of 15 matrix cells, in particular in the area of enabling individuals. The referencing of self-help to health promotion is stronger than vice versa. Overall implicit references prevail. Conclusions. The identified overlaps show the manifold connections as well as further potentials of cooperation between mutual self-help and health promotion. Particularly compatible seem the actual health-literacy discussion and cooperation in the context of health-promoting hospitals. Thereby the different logics of action on both sides have to be taken into account as well as the necessity for providing mediating structures and monetary resources.