Research
Research
Shaping transitions - building bridges to school participation for and with pupils with illnesses (BRÜCKEN) - sub-project: focus groups with teachers
Project description:
Children and young people with chronic somatic or mental illnesses are particularly vulnerable in the education system. Their illness-related school transitions - for example between mainstream school, home schooling or hospitalisation - represent complex, non-normative transition processes that are associated with considerable challenges. Learning deficits, social isolation and stigmatisation not only jeopardise the psychosocial development of the pupils concerned, but also their educational opportunities and long-term qualifications.
The aim of the international "Bridges" project is therefore to generate sound knowledge about how illness-related school transitions can be designed pedagogically in such a way that they enable continuous participation in school learning and social interaction. At the centre is the development of coordinated, individually tailored and culturally sensitive support strategies with the help of transnational networking between universities, hospital schools and inclusive mainstream schools in the D-A-CH region. Among other things, a digital handout and an interactive online tool for the support and further education of schools and professionals are planned.
The Oldenburg sub-project, led by Prof Dr Annett Thiele, aims to develop practical recommendations for school transition processes in the event of illness through international exchange of experience and qualitative research. Case studies and best practices are systematically recorded and analysed in digital focus groups with teachers. As part of the research project, the findings will contribute to the development of concrete, multimedia and interactive handouts and tools that will support teachers in the professional support of sick pupils in the future.
The research project is funded by the Swiss Foundation for the Promotion of Exchange and Mobility (MOVETIA) and is scheduled to run for 24 months from 1 December 2025 (project number: 2025-1-CH01-IP-0067). Dr Robert Langnickel at the Lucerne University of Teacher Education is responsible for the overall management of the project.
Scientific sub-project management:
Research assistants:
Student assistants:
Louisa Strotmann & Dayline Martha Wittje
Project duration:
01.12.2025 - 30.11.2027 (24 months)
MS-Vita - Patient-orientated provision of aids for bladder and bowel dysfunction in people with multiple sclerosis
Project description:
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are very often confronted with the challenges of bladder and bowel voiding dysfunction (including bladder and bowel incontinence) during the course of their illness. The resulting impairments to everyday life are shameful and are therefore usually not openly discussed by patients and their relatives. As a result, the complaints often remain untreated for too long, which often leads to an increase in symptoms and affects participation in everyday life.
Together with people with multiple sclerosis and their relatives, the Pedagogy and Didactics for Impairments of Physical and Motor Development and Chronic and Progressive Diseases research group, headed by Prof Dr Annett Thiele, is investigating the perspective of MS sufferers on the provision of aids for bladder and bowel dysfunction. Using a participatory approach, a patient and family advisory board will be involved in various phases of the research process with the aim of developing appropriate recommendations for action in the form of a patient brochure.
The research project is part of the healthcare research project "Patient-oriented provision of aids for bladder and bowel dysfunction in people with multiple sclerosis" funded by the Innovation Fund of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA). The healthcare research project uses a mixed-method approach to investigate the provision of aids for bladder and bowel dysfunction (including bladder and bowel incontinence). Low-threshold access and the availability of appropriate resources are of enormous importance for people with multiple sclerosis. It is often difficult to diagnose a bladder or bowel dysfunction and only occurs when the level of suffering is already very high. This makes it all the more important to provide transparent information about suitable means and options that facilitate and support quality of life and social participation in particular.
The project consortium is led by the Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences - Wolfsburg site. In addition to the University of Oldenburg, the research team includes: the German Multiple Sclerosis Society (Deutsche Multiple Sklerose Gesellschaft Bundesverband e.V.), the German Multiple Sclerosis Society Landesverband Niedersachsen e.V., Hannover Medical School and MS Forschungs- und Projektentwicklungs-gGmbH Hannover.
The research project is funded by the Innovation Fund of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) with approximately 1.4 million euros and is scheduled to run for 36 months from 1 January 2024. Click here to go to the Innovation Committee's project page.
Scientific sub-project management:
Research assistants:
Dyon Hoekstra & Alica Gärtner
Student assistant:
Silke Bülow
Project duration:
01/2024 - 12/2026
Student research project: SickTok - Young people's self-portrayals and experiences of illness on TikTok
Project description:
How do young people experience chronic illnesses in everyday life? What challenges do they face and how do they deal with them? And what role does social media play in this?
The research project "SickTok" investigates how adolescents and young adults with chronic somatic or mental illnesses present and address their experiences on the social media platform TikTok. The focus is on personal perspectives on illness, coping and everyday life as well as the question of what meanings and social functions such TikTok posts can fulfil, for example with regard to peer support, education or destigmatisation.
For the study, only publicly accessible content published by users themselves on TikTok will be analysed. The aim of the project is to better understand how experiences of illness in adolescence are visibly negotiated in digital spaces and what pedagogical insights can be derived from this to improve the participation of young people with illness.
The project is being carried out as part of several student theses and closely supervised by researchers. In the future, the results should contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of illness-related experiences of young people in digital environments.
Further information on the handling of data and your rights as a social media user can be found in our data protection information.
If you have any questions about the project, you can contact our research team at any time:
Project leader: Prof Dr Annett Thiele
Project coordination: Alica Gärtner
Evaluation of school counselling in Hamburg
Brief description: At the end of the project, qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to analyse the formal characteristics of school support and the demographic characteristics of the supported pupils and school support staff as well as the expectations and evaluations of relevant stakeholder groups with regard to current school support in Hamburg. Against this background, strengths and weaknesses of the current procedures of school accompaniment in Hamburg are to be identified and needs for change and recommendations derived.
Duration: 08/2021 - 07/2023
Funding: BSB Hamburg
Management: Prof. Dr Karsten Speck, Prof. Dr Ulla Licandro, Prof. Dr Annett Thiele
Collaborators: Dr Sabrina Meichrowitz, Eva Kemler
MS-PoV: Multiple sclerosis - patient-orientated care in Lower Saxony
Project description:
With more than 240,000 sufferers in Germany, multiple sclerosis is the most common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. There is a wide range of treatment options that can be provided on an outpatient, day-clinic and inpatient basis. However, it is not systematically recorded which services are (or can be) utilised. In addition, little is known about the provision of assistive devices such as walking aids or wheelchairs, although these can increase the functional ability and consequently the quality of life and participation of patients.
The research project therefore aims to record the current care situation in Lower Saxony. Differences between urban and rural areas in particular, but also between different forms of multiple sclerosis, are to be identified. The correlations with patient-relevant outcomes such as health-related quality of life will also be analysed. The research team in Oldenburg will focus on the processes involved in the provision of assistive devices.
To implement the entire research project, qualitative and quantitative surveys will be used to include the views and needs of people with MS. Focus groups will be used to analyse care from the perspective of patients and others involved in the care process, such as doctors and physiotherapists. The data collected will be linked to health insurance and register data. In addition, the participatory method of the future workshop will be used to develop recommendations for optimising the provision of assistive devices together with patients and those involved in the process.
Scientific sub-project management:
Prof. Dr Annett Thiele
PD Dr Anna Levke Brütt
with the participation of Prof. Dr Anne Rahn
Research assistants:
Dyon Hoekstra
Elise-Marie Dilger
Project duration:
04/2020 - 03/2023
| Consortium partner: |
| Hannover Medical School, Institute for Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research |
| German Multiple Sclerosis Society (DMSG) Lower Saxony |
| MS Research and Project Development GmbH |
| AOK Lower Saxony, Health Services Research |
Funded by the Innovation Committee:
Click here to go to the Innovation Committee's project page:
Consultancy services for the development of a framework concept and evaluation of school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg
Duration: 02/2021-01/2023
The project "Consultancy services for the development of a framework concept and evaluation of school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg" is being carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Schools and Vocational Training (BSB)/the Hamburg Institute for Vocational Education and Training (HIBB) and is divided into a total of four modules:
Module 1: State-wide inventory of the counselling and support system and nationwide inventory of school social work at vocational schools
In the first module, a state-wide inventory of the counselling and support system in Hamburg and a nationwide inventory of school social work at vocational schools will be carried out. With the help of a document analysis, relevant resources, competences, structures and contextual conditions for the conceptual further development of school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg are to be compiled and collated. Furthermore, existing framework concepts, decrees, guidelines and funding principles for school social work at general and vocational schools in Germany will be researched. From this, technical cornerstones for the conceptual further development of school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg are to be identified and decision-making options for further development identified. In addition, short interviews will be conducted with selected stakeholders of the existing counselling and support system in Hamburg.
Module 2: Formulation of recommendations for the content and implementation steps of a framework concept for school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg
In the second module, recommendations are to be formulated for the content and implementation steps of a framework concept for school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg. The recommendations take into account the special features of school social work at vocational schools and look for links between school social work and the counselling and support system in Hamburg.
Module 3: Scientific monitoring of the implementation of school social work and the further development of the counselling and support system at vocational schools in Hamburg
In the third module, the gradual implementation of school social work at vocational schools and the further development of the counselling and support system in Hamburg will be scientifically supported throughout the process. The focus of the scientific support here is on contributing professional expertise in the areas of implementing innovations in organisations, counselling and support systems, co-operation between youth welfare and schools, school social work and inclusion. In order to discuss and provide expert support for the implementation of school social work at vocational schools and the further development of the counselling and support system, regular steering meetings are to be held with relevant stakeholders.
Module 4: Evaluation of the practical implementation of school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg
As part of the scientific evaluation, the fourth module will use quantitative instruments (online questionnaire for all respondent groups) and qualitative instruments (eight group discussions with selected representatives of the stakeholder groups) to survey various stakeholder groups that are crucial to the success of the implementation of school social work. The focus of the research interest is on a) the needs, framework concept, programme goals and priorities, b) the framework conditions and implementation of school social work, c) the processes and activities of school social work and d) the results and successes of school social work. The following groups of actors who are important for the implementation should be interviewed in the process-accompanying (formative) evaluation: a) the school and department heads, b) the teachers, c) the school social workers and d) other educational staff at and around the schools (e.g. stakeholders). A repeat survey (pre-post design) will be conducted to measure the effects. Stufflebeam's CIPP model will be used as the theoretical concept (Stufflebeam & Shinkfield, 2007; Stufflebeam, 2007, 2003, 2001, 1984, 1971a and b). A descriptive and inferential statistical evaluation of the quantitative data and a content analysis of the group discussions will be carried out.
Project leaders: Prof Dr Karsten Speck and Prof Dr Annett Thiele
Research assistant: Sarah Kathrin Steingräber M.A.
Student assistant: Mareike Harms