Eva Maria Bitzer1, Lena Ansmann2, Madlen Hörold3, Lisa Lyssenko4, Christian Apfelbacher3. 1. Institut für Alltagskultur und Bewegung und Gesundheit, Fachrichtung: Public Health & Health Education, Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Kunzenweg 21, 79117, Freiburg, Deutschland. evamaria.bitzer@ph-freiburg.de. 2. Fakultät VI Medizin und Gesundheitswissenschaften, Organisationsbezogene Versorgungsforschung, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Deutschland. 3. Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Sozialmedizin und Gesundheitssystemforschung, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Deutschland. 4. Institut für Alltagskultur und Bewegung und Gesundheit, Fachrichtung: Public Health & Health Education, Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Kunzenweg 21, 79117, Freiburg, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, sharp disruptions of healthcare utilization for noncommunicable diseases were observed to some extent because of people's fear of infection. We undertook a review of German healthcare institutions asking: To what extent were people supported in their decisions (not) to seek medical care for health problems other than COVID-19? METHODS: Content analysis of the websites of the members of the Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF; n = 179), the association of statutory (dental) health insurance physicians (K(Z)Vs; n = 38), selected health insurances (n = 21), selected healthcare institutions (n = 25), and supraregional health information providers (n = 5) for information and offers that address people with noncommunicable diseases. RESULTS: The examined websites provide information about COVID-19, but only rarely about how to behave in the case of another (suspected) disease regarding healthcare utilization. Two health information provider portals, one health insurance company, but none of the KVs offer explicit decision support. KVs refer more often, but not consistently, to the general possibility of video consulting. DISCUSSION: Information concerning the topic is scarce for most of the patients. In the face of the ongoing pandemic, it is important to expand existing, trustworthy, high-quality information and advisory capacities to increase their profile in order to enable health-literate decisions even during a pandemic.
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, sharp disruptions of healthcare utilization for noncommunicable diseases were observed to some extent because of people's fear of infection. We undertook a review of German healthcare institutions asking: To what extent were people supported in their decisions (not) to seek medical care for health problems other than COVID-19? METHODS: Content analysis of the websites of the members of the Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF; n = 179), the association of statutory (dental) health insurance physicians (K(Z)Vs; n = 38), selected health insurances (n = 21), selected healthcare institutions (n = 25), and supraregional health information providers (n = 5) for information and offers that address people with noncommunicable diseases. RESULTS: The examined websites provide information about COVID-19, but only rarely about how to behave in the case of another (suspected) disease regarding healthcare utilization. Two health information provider portals, one health insurance company, but none of the KVs offer explicit decision support. KVs refer more often, but not consistently, to the general possibility of video consulting. DISCUSSION: Information concerning the topic is scarce for most of the patients. In the face of the ongoing pandemic, it is important to expand existing, trustworthy, high-quality information and advisory capacities to increase their profile in order to enable health-literate decisions even during a pandemic.
Entities:
Keywords:
Decision support; Health information; Health literacy; Health-literate healthcare; Healthcare system
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