Duration: 08/2021 – 07/2023

Funding: BSB Hamburg

Led by: Prof. Karsten Speck, Prof. Ulla Licandro, Prof. Annett Thiele

Staff: Dr. Sabrina Meichrowitz, Eva Kemler

Brief description: The project applies qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse the formal characteristics of school support and the demographic characteristics of the pupils who receive support and the school support staff, as well as the expectations and assessments of relevant interest groups with regard to current school support in Hamburg. In this context, the aim is to identify strengths and weaknesses of the current procedures of school support in Hamburg and to come up with necessary changes and recommendations.

Multiple Sclerosis – Patient-oriented Care in Lower Saxony

Scientific sub-project leader:

Professor Annett Thiele

PD Anna Levke Brütt

with the participation of Prof. Anne Rahn

Research staff:

Dyon Hoekstra

Elise-Marie Dilger

Project duration:

04/2020 – 03/2023

Description of project:

With more than 240,000 people affected 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 carried out on an outpatient, day-care and inpatient basis. However, it is not systematically documented which treatment services are (or can be) used. Moreover, little is known about the provision of aids such as walking aids or wheelchairs even through these can enhance the functional capacity and consequently the quality of life and participation of people with the disease.

The research project therefore aims to assess the current care situation in Lower Saxony. Differences in particular between towns and the countryside as well as between different types of multiple sclerosis are to be identified. The correlations with patient-relevant outcomes such as health-related quality of life are also to be investigated. The research team in Oldenburg will focus on the processes of aid provision.

To implement the entire research project, the views and needs of people with MS will be included using qualitative and quantitative surveys. Care will be analysed from the point of view of patients and others involved in their care such as doctors and physiotherapists in focus groups. The data collected will be linked to health insurance and registry data. In addition, the participatory method of the future workshop is used to develop recommendations for a more optimal provision of aids together with patients and those involved in the process of providing aids.

Consortium partner:

Hanover Medical School, Institute of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research

German Multiple Sclerosis Society (DMSG) Lower Saxony

MS Forschungs- und Projektentwicklungs-gGmbH

AOK Lower Saxony, health services research  

Sponsored by the innovation committee:

Click here to visit the

innovation committee’s project page

Duration: 02/2021 - 01/2023

The project “Consulting services for the development of a framework concept and evaluation of school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg” is carried out on behalf of the Authority for Schools and Vocational Education (BSB) / the Hamburg Institute for Vocational Education and Training (HIBB) and is divided into a total of four modules:

Module 1: State-wide review of the guidance and support system and nationwide review of school social work at vocational schools

The first module initially involves a state-wide review of the guidance and support system in Hamburg and a nationwide review of school social work at vocational schools. With the help of 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 developed and compiled. Furthermore, existing framework concepts, decrees, guidelines and funding principles for school social work at general education and vocational schools in Germany are to be researched. From this, specific key points 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 are to be presented. Furthermore, short interviews are to be carried out with selected stakeholders of the existing guidance and support system in Hamburg.

Module 2: Formulation of recommendations for content and implementation steps of a framework concept for school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg.

In the second module, recommendations for content and implementation steps of a framework concept for school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg are to be formulated. The recommendations take into account the particularities of school social work at vocational schools and consider links between school social work and the guidance and support system in Hamburg.

Module 3: Scientific support for the implementation of school social work and the further development of the guidance and support system at vocational schools in Hamburg

In the third module, the gradual implementation of school social work at the vocational schools and the further development of the guidance and support system in Hamburg are to be supported scientifically throughout the process. The focus of this scientific support is on contributing professional expertise in the areas of implementing innovations in organisations, guidance and support systems, cooperation between youth welfare and schools, school social work and inclusion. Regular steering meetings should take place with relevant stakeholders in order to discuss the implementation of school social work at the vocational schools and the further development of the guidance and support system and to oversee it from a professional point of view.

Module 4: Evaluation of the practical implementation of school social work at vocational schools in Hamburg

In the fourth module, as part of the scientific evaluation, various groups of stakeholders that are vital for the success of implementing school social work are to be questioned using quantitative instruments (online questionnaires for all groups of respondents) and qualitative instruments (eight group discussions with selected representatives from the groups of stakeholders). The focus of the research is, inter alia, a) the needs, framework concept, programme objectives and priorities, b) the framework conditions and the 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 stakeholders that are important for implementation are to be questioned in the process-related (formative) evaluation: a) the school management and heads of department, b) the teaching staff, c) the school social workers and d) if applicable, other educational staff in and around the schools (e.g. stakeholders). A follow-up survey (pre-post design) is used to measure effects. The CIPP model created by Stufflebeam is to be used as a theoretical concept (Stufflebeam & Shinkfield, 2007; Stufflebeam, 2007, 2003, 2001, 1984, 1971a and b). A descriptive and inferential statistical evaluation of the quantitative data and an content-analytical evaluation of the group discussions take place.

Project leaders: Prof. Karsten Speck and Prof. Annett Thiele

Research assistant: Sarah Kathrin Steingräber M.A.

Student assistant: Mareike Harms

Brief description: Funding institutions Federal Joint Committee, Statutory Health Insurance Innovation Fund (period from 01/2024 to 31/12/2026).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic inflammatory degenerative disease of the central nervous system in young adults. In Germany alone, more than 15,000 people are newly diagnosed with MS. This usually happens between the ages of 20 and 40. The disease can progress very differently from person to person, but the likelihood of developing bladder and bowel dysfunction (including urinary and faecal incontinence) increases the longer you have the disease. After having the disease for 15 years, around 74 percent of patients report bladder dysfunction and 31 percent experience bowel dysfunction. This is very debilitating for those affected; incontinence significantly limits their mobility and as a result their social lives. In addition, this issue is a great source of social embarrassment, which means that these symptoms are often only diagnosed very late on, if at all, and therefore not adequately treated. The research team in the project PatoHV-BuDf-MS would like to considerably improve the quality of life of those affected by identifying ways to achieve early diagnosis with individually adapted incontinence management and appropriate provision of aids. To this end, it will investigate the provision of aids on the basis of literature research as well as by interviewing patients and their relatives. In addition, the researchers will evaluate routinely collected data from health insurance companies and will interview nursing staff and attending physicians to gain a comprehensive picture of the healthcare situation. The project’s findings are to be used to improve the treatment of patients with MS and to use recommendations for action for a needs-based provision of aids for bladder and bowel emptying disorders.

Consortium partner: Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, German Multiple Sclerosis Society (DMSG), German Multiple Sclerosis Society Lower Saxony Regional Association, Hanover Medical School, MS Forschungs- und Projektentwicklungs-gGmbh