SRH Hochschule für Gesundheit

Our completed research projects

Here you will find all the research projects with which we have made society a little healthier.

Through the acquisition of third-party funding, many exciting research activities have already been carried out at our health university. Here you can get a detailed overview of already completed research projects.

Our externally funded projects

Project Manager: Dr. Diana Rösler

Participating staff: Antje Malik, Carolin Thiel, Kristin Velten-Richter

Duration: July 2020-September 2021

Contact: Dr. Diana Rösler

Funding: SRH Holding funding amount: 101.200 Euros

Project description: In order to capture the experiences, assessments and suggestions of SRH employees, the SRH _.impuls employee survey will be conducted for the third time by the SRH University of Health project team in the period from March 8 to 28, 2021. More than 16,000 employees from over 40 SRH companies are invited to participate in the SRH-wide employee survey. The results will be made available to SRH companies in the 3rd quarter of 2021.

In addition to the development of the survey results over the three survey dates, the survey will focus on the following topics:

  • Reasons for working at the company
  • Overall satisfaction
  • Recommendation, re-decision, willingness to switch
  • Satisfaction and importance of individual aspects at a glance
  • Need for change
  • Work situation
  • Communication
  • Training and qualification
  • Quality, innovation and customer orientation
  • Remuneration
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Corporate culture

The evaluation is carried out at both Group and divisional level. Furthermore, all companies in the SRH Group receive an overview of their company-specific results, which are processed in detail by the project team. The results serve to identify and consolidate successful strategies of the companies in the SRH Group and to drive forward new impulses for future positive development at the structural and content level.

Course of studies: Neurorehabilitation, Master of Science

Project Leaders: Susan Högg, cand. M.Sc., Prof. Dr. habil. Jan Mehrholz

Cooperation partner: Asklepioskliniken Schildautal Seesen

Laufzeit: 01.05.2017-31.05.2018

Contact: Prof. Dr. habil. Jan Mehrholz, jan.mehrholz@srh.de

Funding: Internal research funding

Background: After a stroke, affected individuals often suffer from motor impairments as a result of arm paralysis and are dependent on the support of relatives or medical staff. Effective rehabilitation is therefore of great importance on both an individual and societal level. A common procedure for treating functional limitations due to paresis is progressive resistance training. This has achieved significant functional changes in randomized controlled trials. However, based on the current state of studies, no conclusion can be drawn regarding the effectiveness of this training in the subacute stage of the disease. Therefore, the aim of our study is to investigate safety and effectiveness of arm strength training in the subacute phase after stroke.

METHODS: We are planning a prospective randomized controlled trial with blinded investigators in our neurological rehabilitation clinic, which will examine patients after stroke in the subacute stage of disease. Patients are randomly and covertly assigned to one of two training groups (1:1 ratio). In addition to standard rehabilitation, the intervention group receives intensive and progressive arm resistance training and the control group receives low-intensity arm training (three times per week, over three weeks, 60 minutes of training time each time, for a total of nine training sessions). Standard arm rehabilitation includes mobilization, stretching, positioning, arm and hand motor training, strengthening exercises, robotic or equipment-based functional training, and activity training. The primary outcome variable is grip strength-a significant predictor of functional recovery. Secondary endpoints will be assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale, Motricity Index, Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Assessment, Box & Block Test, and Goal Attainment Scale. The outcome variables will be collected at baseline and immediately after three weeks of training by blinded investigators. Dropout rates and the occurrence of adverse side effects will also be documented. Based on our calculations, we require a sample size of 78 patients.

Discussion: This study aims to fill the evidence gap for effects of arm strength training in patients after stroke in the subacute stage. The results of this study may provide robust evidence for the effect and safety of this training. The study will be registered in the German clinical trial registry before recruitment of the first patient.

Course of studies: Interdisciplinary project

Project leader: Carolin Thiel – Coordination: Nicole Werbelow 

Cooperation partners: Tabaluga Elementary School; Otto-Dix Elementary School; Hans-Christian-Andersen Elementary School; Entdecker Elementary School; Förderschule Röpsen Duration: 2012-2020

Contact: Carolin Thiel, M.Sc., carolin.thiel@srh.de

Funding: State coordination in Thuringia, East Thuringia State Education Authority, Pädagogische Werkstatt-Globales Lernen-Gera e.V. and Thuringia Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Youth Policy Department; donations

Funding volume: 2,500 euros

The project, which has been successful throughout Germany for well over 10 years, accompanies elementary school students on their sometimes difficult path into adolescence. The Balu und Du mentoring program supports elementary school children in extracurricular activities. Involved in this are young, committed students (Balus) of the SRH University of Applied Sciences for Health, who voluntarily take on an individual sponsorship for a child (Mogli) for at least one year. Through personal attention and active leisure time activities, the children are supported in developing in our society and learning how to successfully master the challenges of everyday life. Through the regular meetings, the children benefit from the experiences of the young adults and learn to value them as confidants and advisors. The project also holds associated reflection meetings for the students, where events, problems and concerns can be discussed in the presence of the project leader.

Project Leader: Dr. Sabrina Simchen-Schubert

Staff involved: Kristin Velten-Richter

Duration: 08.2019-01.2020

Contact: Dr. Sabrina Simchen-Schubert

Funding: SRH Kliniken GmbH

Funding amount: 15.000 Euros

n order to keep the quality of the treatments of the patients as well as the cooperation of the referring physicians high, the Referrer - and Follow-up Survey 2019 was conducted by the SRH University of Health in September/October 2019. The university thus supports the quality management of 10 SRH clinics.

A total of approximately 6,500 clinics and physicians were contacted throughout Germany. Topics such as the satisfaction and preferences of various aspects, information requests about the clinics as well as the overall impression of the clinics among the physicians were queried. Furthermore, an additional center survey was conducted in 4 of the 10 clinics, in which an assessment of the oncology and endology centers was made.

The evaluation takes place at the level of the sponsoring company and the company itself. The results of the survey are intended to maintain the high quality of the collaboration with the referring physicians and to identify opportunities for improvement.

Of people with visible chronic skin diseases in Germany (ECHT-EVAL 2018).

Course of studies: Psychische Gesundheit und Psychotherapie, M. Sc.

Project Leader: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski

Involved Staff: Natascha Alexandra Weinberger

Cooperation partner: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf - Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and the Nursing Professions (IVDP) Bundesverband der Deutschen Dermatologen e.V. - BVDD-Stabsstelle Politik Berlin

Laufzeit: 01.01.2018-31.12.2020

Contact: Natascha Alexandra Weinberger, natascha-alexandra.weinberger@srh.de

Funding: Federal Ministry of Health (BMG)

Funding volume: 145,000 euros

About 10 million people in Germany are affected by various types of skin diseases. Especially people with visible chronic skin diseases still suffer from lack of understanding and sometimes open stigmatization in Germany. Negative reactions from other people can cause enormous suffering for those affected and have a negative impact on various areas of life.

Against this background, specific formats of structured "destigmatization" in the encounter between affected and non-affected persons are designed, developed and scientifically evaluated in the present project of the SRH University of Health, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Health. The testing of the interventions is carried out in a natural setting. The immediate evaluation will be carried out with both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

The central aim of the project is to obtain valid findings on the benefits and effectiveness of different forms of intervention for the "destigmatization" of people with chronic skin diseases and to implement a long-term concept of measures for "destigmatization" in Germany.

Study programs: Interdisciplinary project

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Johannes Schaller

Staff involved: Dr. Diana Rösler, Antje Malik

Cooperation partner: Local Alliances for People with Dementia

Duration: 01.09.2016- 31.08.2018

Contact: Dr. Diana Rösler, diana.roesler@srh.de

Funding: Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

Funding volume: 10,000 euros

As an alliance partner of the Local Alliances for People with Dementia, the SRH University of Applied Sciences offers a multi-part continuing education program on the topic of dementia for professional staff such as physicians, health care workers and nurses, as well as trainees, but also for affected persons and relatives of people with dementia. On the one hand, the aim is to improve active networking between the individual players in the field of dementia as part of the network work; on the other hand, the focus is on social education and, in particular, on raising awareness and enabling support offers in dealing with dementia. Implied is a stronger integration of the SRH Wald-Klinikum Gera and the local doctors, in order to promote a sustainable cooperation in the future in the education and treatment of dementia patients. The content of the training is designed in such a way that the individual alliance partners (e.g. doctors, psychologists, social and nursing consultants, therapists, self-help groups, associations, housing cooperatives, etc.) take an active role in the implementation of the training. In addition, the target groups receive comprehensive information material compiled for their needs.

Project Leader: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski

Involved Staff: Marie Bernard, M.A.

Cooperation partners: Association of Diabetes Counseling and Training Professions in Germany (VDBD), University of Jena, RED Institute Oldenburg.

Laufzeit: 01.01.2017-31.12.2019

Contact: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski, claudia.luck-sikorski@srh.de; Marie Bernard, marie.bernard@srh.de 

Funding: Verband der Diabetes-Beratungs- und Schulungsberufe in Deutschland e.V. (VDBD), German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).

Funding volume: 85,000 euros

The aim of the study is to evaluate the developed VDBD training program for relatives of people with diabetes mellitus (DM). For this purpose, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted comparing participants of the education program with a control group without participation. N = 80 subjects each will be divided between experimental and control groups, which will be further divided equally between training sessions for relatives of patients with DM type 1 and type 2, respectively (n = 40 per group). Differences between experimental and control group are the basis to evaluate the benefit of the training program compared to an untrained group of subjects. The control group will not receive any intervention during the observation period, but will receive the regular counseling and support. For the evaluation of the training program an approach with qualitative and quantitative methods (mixed methods) is chosen: Quantitative questionnaires are used before the start of the training program as well as after its completion, regardless of group membership. In addition, a quantitative follow-up survey will be conducted after 6 and 12 months in both groups. In addition, qualitative guideline-based interviews will be conducted after completion of the training program. The aim is to assess diabetes-associated knowledge and knowledge gain as well as social and psychological resources and burdens of the relatives of people with DM. The randomized controlled evaluation study is also a prerequisite for recognition and cost coverage by health insurance companies.

Successful market introduction of cardioprotective foods- Attitudes of the population toward cardioprotective foods.

Project members: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski, Prof. Dr. med. Steffi G. Riedel-Heller 

Contact person: Franziska Jung, Regine Breneise

Project partners: Universities of Jena, Halle-Wittenberg and Leipzig

Funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

This project is part of the competence network "nutriCARD" (Competence Cluster for Nutrition and cardiovascular health), which is carried out at the Universities of Jena, Halle-Wittenberg and Leipzig. The project is located and funded at the University of Leipzig (Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Medicine and Public Health), but is managed at the SRH University of Applied Sciences Gera by Prof. Luck-Sikorski and Ms. Jung.

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading health problems worldwide and the most common cause of death in industrialized countries. Thus, there is an urgent need for healthier foods and improved dietary behaviors, two topics included in the nutriCARD initiative. A quantitative survey (N=1000) of the German population's attitudes towards cardioprotective foods will be conducted as part of this project.

On the one hand, the quantitative survey includes questions related to the acceptance and willingness to purchase these products or to elicit purchase motives. On the other hand, possible barriers or obstacles that discourage purchase will be identified. The goal of these analyses is to identify and describe consumer groups that are either particularly skeptical or supportive of cardioprotective foods. Finally, a qualitative focus group study serves the purpose of obtaining more information about these consumer and prospective consumer groups.

The aim of the sub-project described here is to use the market analysis to discuss customer potential and close the gap between manufacturers and customers. The project provides insights into eating behavior, nutrition and health awareness of the general population. From the results, possible strategies can be derived to increase health awareness and to take active as well as preventive action against cardiovascular diseases and the associated health consequences.

Course of studies: Mental Health and Psychotherapy, M. Sc.

Project leader: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski

Collaborators: Jennifer Spiegel, Regine Breneise

Cooperation partners: Empirical Communication and Media Research University of Leipzig (Dr. Tobias Höhn), Institute for Food Hygiene University of Leipzig (Prof. Peggy Braun, Dr. Claudia Wiacek)

Duration: 01.11.2018-31.10.2020

Contact: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski, claudia.luck-sikorski@srh.de; Regine Breneise, regine.breneise@srh.de

Funding: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

Funding volume: 108.000 Euros

Cardioprotective foods represent an opportunity to influence eating behavior and thus the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as body weight in the general population, and also to reduce the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the attitudes of the population towards these new foods will be assessed and trends will also be documented on the impact of increasing marketing campaigns on cardioprotective foods since the start of nutriCARD. So far, it appears that the introduction of such products is met with skepticism. For example, a study in Germany shows that in 1998 only 12% were even aware of the term "functional foods" (Scholzel 1998). Today, however, as the availability of these products has increased and the population shows a much greater interest in healthy eating, recent Finnish studies have documented that these foods are now viewed similarly to conventional foods (Urala and Lahteenmaki 2007).

This project consists of a quantitative survey to investigate consumer behavior and attitudes of individuals in the general population toward new products. Here, participants will be surveyed regarding their health behaviors, attitudes toward cardioprotective foods, and knowledge about innovative foods. A longitudinal study and a comparison to the results from the first funding period will be conducted.

Course of studies: Medical Pedagogy, Master of Arts

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Sylvia Sänger 

Participating staff: Robert Leschowski, B.A.

Cooperations partner: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care IQWiG

Duration: 01.06.2016-31.05.2018

Contact: Prof. Dr. Sylvia Sänger, sylvia.saenger@srh.de

Funding: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care IQWiG

Funding volume: 6.270 Euros

Background: According to §139a (3) SGB V, the tasks of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) include the provision of evidence-based health information for citizens. This information is available on the platform www.gesundheitsinformation.de. Health information is intended to improve citizens' knowledge of health issues and enable them to make active and informed decisions. However, this can only be achieved if the information is comprehensible to citizens. This is to be checked in tests with laypersons.

Methodology: To test the comprehensibility of the health information, a user test was conducted with citizens from Gera and the catchment area of Gera. Recruitment was done by information flyers, notices and personal approach. The test participants received the information to be tested and took an assessment on a questionnaire in the home environment. Subsequently, guided individual interviews were conducted and transcribed. The user testing is intended to provide information on the comprehensibility of the information and the statistical data in the text, on the structure and scope of the information, and on the suitability of the various pieces of information for supporting doctor-patient communication and decision-making. A short report on the sociodemographic data of the test participants, the results of the questionnaires and the transcribed individual interviews was prepared in each case and sent to IQWiG. This forms the basis for revising the information, which is then published on the portal www.gesundheitsinformation.de. A final summary report on all testing is due in May 2018.

Results: To date, the following information has been tested:

  • "Why is abdominal aortic screening offered?"
  • Constant cough and shortness of breath are not normal (COPD).
  • No false shame with head lice
  • Seborrheic eczema
  • What remedies help with seborrheic eczema?

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), obesity and their mixed forms

Study programs: Mental Health and Psychotherapy, Master of Science and Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science, training integrated

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Constance Daubert, Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski

Cooperation partner: German Lymph Self-Help Association (Deutsche Lymphselbsthilfe e.V.).

Laufzeit: 01.12.2017-31.12.2018

Contact: Prof. Dr. Constance Daubert, constance.daubert@srh.de

Funding: Deutsche Lymphselbsthilfe e.V.

Funding volume: 2,000 euros

Lymphedema and lipedema are common chronic diseases that are associated with a high psychological and physical burden for those affected (Schubert & Viethen, 2016; Flaggl, Döller & Apich, 2006; Jager, Döller & Roth, 2006; McWayne & Heiney, 2005; Williams, Moffatt & Franks, 2004).

To date, however, there have been no systematic studies of the stresses experienced by people with lymphedema, lipedema, CVI, and their mixed forms. Within the framework of a quantitative survey, people affected are interviewed online. Questionnaires on the experience of stress as well as on the perceived stigmatization will be used. It is planned to continue the pilot project qualitatively on a larger scale.

The results represent the first ever cross-disease overview on the topic of psyche and lipedema/lymphedema/CVI/obesity lymphedema. They serve to document the psychological burdens and everyday care of affected patients. The results of the study can support care providers and professional societies in their arguments to payers and support the demand for action.

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science, training-integrated

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Björn EichmannProf. Dr. Tobias Erhardt

Cooperation partner: Reha med Herxheim Gesundheitspark

Duration: 01.02.17-30.09.18

Contact: Prof. Dr. Björn Eichmann, björn.eichmann@srh.de; Prof. Dr. Tobias Erhardt, tobias.erhardt@srh.de

Funding: Reha med Herxheim Gesundheitspark

Funding vlomue: 1.400 Euros

The aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness and sustainability of medical training therapy (MTT). What is the significance of MTT for patients with regard to everyday working life, quality of life and state of health? For this purpose, patients with diseases of the lumbar spine are recruited as study participants. Data will be collected at the beginning and end of outpatient rehabilitation, two months and five months afterwards. Spinal mobility, physical performance assessment during work-related stress, stance balance, endurance and maximum strength of the trunk muscles will be recorded.

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science, training-integrated

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Tobias ErhardtProf. Dr. Björn Eichmann

Cooperation partner: Klinikum Landau-SÜW, Klinik Annweiler am Trifels

Duration: 01.03.17-01.09.18

Contact: Prof. Dr. Björn Eichmann, björn.eichmann@srh.de; Prof. Dr. Tobias Erhardt, tobias.erhardt@srh.de

Funding: Klinikum Landau-SÜW, Klinik Annweiler am Trifels

Funding volume: 800 Euros

The aim of the study is mobilization management in geriatric patients. How can geriatric patients be motivated to exercise and build up self-confidence during and after their inpatient stay? For this purpose, inpatients at the Annweiler Hospital are recruited. Data will be collected at the beginning and at the end of the inpatient stay as well as 28 days afterwards. The physical activity, the physical performance level and the subjective condition of the patients are recorded.

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, B. Sc.

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Björn Eichmann & Prof. Dr. Tobias Erhardt

Cooperation partner: Hornbach AG

Laufzeit: 01.05.2017-31.05.2018

Contact: Prof. Dr. Björn Eichmann, Björn.eichmann@srh.de & Prof. Dr. Tobias Erhardt

Funding: Hornbach AG

Background Work-related sick days are largely caused by back pain. 34% of incapacity to work is due to back pain (Liersch, 2013). Studies already show the positive effects of strength training (Lee et al., 2016) on the back structure. The following study will address how targeted trunk training can be implemented as part of workplace health management. Methods An eight-week trunk training program (1x per week) was conducted with 19 participants in the intervention group. 5 participants served as the control group and did not perform the intervention.

Assessments included the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), finger-to-floor distance (FBA), the SF-36 questionnaire, a self-developed questionnaire, and other measures collected by a body composition scale. Participants underwent assessments at baseline and after the eight-week intervention. Results Back pain was reduced by 13% during the intervention. The well-being data were also striking. These were improved by 7.8%. In particular, subjects who felt unwell at the start of the study showed significant progress. Discussion The study shows that both physical and mental health can be improved through occupational health management. To confirm these trends, larger and interdisciplinary concepts would be useful.

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science

Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Tobias Erhardt

Involved Staff: Prof. Dr. Björn Eichmann, Nils Bringeland (M.A.), research assistant

Cooperation partner: BKK Pfalz

Duration: 01.02.2018-30.11.2019

Contact: Prof. Dr. Tobias Erhardt, tobias.erhardt@srh.de

Funding: BKK Pfalz

Funding volume: 35.438,20 Euros

The objectives of the "Walking and Health" study (WG study) are to record the amount of physical activity and a survey of physical and psychological parameters. These include pulse, blood pressure, muscle mass and a survey on physical and mental well-being. For this purpose, study participants interested in health walks will be recruited. Data collection will take place at five measurement time points (t1, t1, t2, t3, t4). The study is a cooperation project between the SRH University of Applied Sciences for Health in Karlsruhe and the BKK Pfalz.

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, B. Sc., training integrated at the Campus Leverkusen

Project leader: Prof. habil. Dr. Michael Tiemann

Involved Staff: Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum, Assina Müller

Cooperation partner: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) (Prof. Dr. Alexander Woll, Prof. Dr. Stefan Sell; Prof. Dr. Rita Wittelsberger)

Duration: 01.09.2018-29.02.2020

Contact: Prof. Dr. Michael Tiemann, michael.tiemann@srh.de

Funding: Deutsche Rheuma-Liga Bundesverband

Funding volume: 248.082 Euros

The functional training carried out nationwide by the German Rheumatism League represents a central element of health care for people suffering from rheumatism. Important goals of functional training are the preservation and improvement of the body functions of the persons concerned as well as their integration into society and working life as permanently as possible. In order to achieve these goals, functional training includes, in particular, specific movement therapy exercises in the form of dry and water gymnastics as well as other supplementary measures to promote a self-determined and self-responsible approach to one's own illness.

Within the framework of this project, functional training is adapted to current medical, sports, training, therapy and behavioral science findings as well as health psychology and consistently aligned with the ICF approach (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) of the WHO. A main focus is also on the practical feasibility of the new or further developed concept in the regional and member associations of the German Rheumatism League.

The project focuses on the description of the target group as well as the goals and contents of the functional training, the development of a competence profile for functional training leaders, the development of an implementation strategy and the execution of an implementation evaluation as well as the development of an education and training curriculum for functional training leaders. For this purpose, systematic literature analyses as well as group discussions, individual interviews and written surveys of managing directors, function training leaders and function training participants are carried out in particular.

Around 860,000 nurses work in Germany's hospitals, nursing stations and home care. Almost 200,000 of them are in the last third of their working lives and can already look back on many years of service. This group finds itself in a dilemma: On the one hand, the legislator demands that nursing activities correspond to the scientific "state of the art". On the other hand, nursing professionals have to cope with their strenuous everyday work and make responsible decisions based on the situation. How does continuing professional development work in this context?

The funding project "Flexicare 50+", which is being carried out by the partners SRH University of Applied Sciences for Health Gera, TÜV Rheinland Akademie and MMB Institute for Media and Competence Research, is exploring new possibilities for experienced professionals in care to continue their education despite high workloads and cost pressures. The project consortium is developing learning scenarios for this purpose, which will then be tested and established at the Catholic Hospital in Bochum, the Arnsberg Hospital, and the Niederberg Hospital in order to create new training opportunities for professionals.

Research funding internal

Development of a survey instrument

Course of Studies: Education and Support in Childhood, Bachelor of Arts

Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Manja Plehn

Duration: WS 2018/19

Contact: Prof. Dr. Manja Plehn, manja.plehn@srh.de

Funding: Internal research funding

The research project is located in the discipline of childhood pedagogy, in the context of the pedagogical quality of child day care facilities and here exclusively in the working fields of after-school care, school child care and all-day elementary school. The "lunch situation" is considered a pedagogical field of action (Tietze et al. 2016, pp. 85-94) that can and should be professionally designed pedagogically. So far, no instrument is known that can be used to empirically survey the primary school children's view of their subjective experience of their lunch situation. However, this is necessary in order to subsequently further develop the quality of pedagogical action. The claim to explore children's perspectives has been discussed by modern childhood research for almost two decades (Heinzel 2012). Their subjective views, interpretations of phenomena of the world and self-view thus move into the focus of childhood pedagogy. It can be assumed that especially children of primary school age are able to symbolically represent their subjective views of their living space in an educational institution and their experiences. In the meantime, a large number of studies have attempted to use qualitative methods to open up research access to children's perspectives. But quantitative research has also increasingly discovered children as addressees of surveys (Heinzel 2012). For this, however, the instruments of the survey must be geared to the age and competencies of the children. So far, various methods have been scientifically developed, including Dialoggestützte Interviews mit Kindern (Weltzien 2012) and Kindgerecht aus Kindersicht - die QuaKi-Studie (Nentwig-Gesemann, Walther & Thedinga 2017). An instrument for surveying children's views of their lunch situation in a daycare facility does not yet exist.

On randomized controlled trials to improve walking ability after stroke.

Study programs: Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy, Bachelor of Science and Neurorehabilitation, Master of Science

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Elsner

Participating staff: Prof. Dr. habil. Jan Mehrholz

Cooperation partner: TU Dresden

Duration: 01.04.2017-30.09.2017

Contact: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Elsner, bernhard.elsner@srh.de 

Study programs: Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy, Bachelor of Science and Neurorehabilitation, Master of Science.

Funding: Internal research funding

Background: The aim of this paper was to summarize the current evidence of gait rehabilitation after stroke. Methods: systematic review of randomized controlled trials with network meta-analysis. Endpoints were walking speed, walking ability, gait endurance, and complications.

Results: We included a total of 95 randomized controlled trials with a total of 4 458 patients after stroke. For the primary end point walking speed, end-effector-based electromechanical-assisted gait rehabilitation achieved significant improvements (mean difference (MD) = 0.16 m/s, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04 ... 0.28). All other interventions did not significantly improve walking speed. For the secondary endpoint gait endurance, only speed-based treadmill training and treadmill training with body weight unloading achieved significant improvement (MD = 59.9 m, 95% CI: 3.7 ... 116 and MD = 39.8 m, 95% CI: 4.8 ... 74.8, respectively). No network meta-analysis was performed for the secondary endpoint of walking ability due to significant inconsistency. Safety and adverse events did not differ with respect to individual interventions of gait rehabilitation after stroke.

CONCLUSION: Comparing different gait therapy approaches after stroke, gait rehabilitation with end-effector support seems to be beneficial for improving gait speed and treadmill therapy with body weight unloading or speed approach seems to be beneficial for improving gait endurance.

Course of Studies: Health Psychology, Bachelor of Science

Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Beate Muschalla

Involved Staff: cand.-psych. Linda Meinel, cand.-psych. Laura Dietrich

Duration: WiSe 2017-18 

Contact: Prof. Dr. Beate Muschalla, beate.muschalla@srh.de

Funding: Internal research funding

In terms of the modern description of health problems (ICF, WHO, 2001), an impairment is the resultant of "ability" and "context". To describe occupational health and work ability, a description of the ability requirements of the specific workplace is needed in addition to a simultaneous recording of the employee's ability (Work Incapacity Guideline, GBA, 2014). To date, there is no instrument that can be used in practice to concisely describe mental work ability requirements. In the field of social medicine, the Mini-ICF-APP (Linden et al., 2015, 2015) has established itself as a standard procedure (DRV, 2012; DGPM, 2012; SGVP, 2012; Schneider et al., 2012) to describe psychologically relevant abilities of an individual. As an external rating instrument, it allows the ability status and, if applicable, ability impairments of the person to be recorded on 13 ability dimensions. In the meantime, the Mini-ICF-APP working group has also developed a first version of the Mini-ICF-APP-W in a pilot study (Muschalla, 2015), which captures the ability requirements of a workplace on the same ability dimensions. In this pilot study, patients of a somatic rehabilitation clinic were interviewed. The study initially included a selection of ability dimensions.

Aim of the study: The instrument (Mini-ICF-APP-W) will be evaluated on an independent non-clinical sample based on the pilot study described above. Ability dimensions that could not be included in the pilot study will be added. A structured survey of work-relevant mental abilities and perceived work demands is of great importance for.

  • (a) occupational health management (OHM),
  • (b) the legally required mental risk assessment,
  • (c) prevention-oriented personnel selection,
  • (d) interventions for employees with psychological problems,
  • (e) company integration management (BEM),
  • (f) planning of services for participation in working life (LTA) for people with chronic mental impairments. The Mini-ICF-APP-W will therefore be of interest for these application areas after successful evaluation.

This project is a subproject within the research program on work-related mental health problems and (work) ability issues of the applicant (see website). In the context of health research at SRH, this is a project at the interface between health psychology, clinical psychology and work psychology. Students of all three subjects can benefit both in the context of the planned qualification work, or from the results and the new networks with organizations that arise in the context of the project.

- How common are misconceptions about the brain among students and faculty? Part 2

Course of Studies: Medical Pedagogy, Master of Arts (M. A.)

Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Hiltraut Paridon

Duration: October 2018 - April 2019

Contact: Prof. Dr. Hiltraut Paridon, hiltraut.paridon@srh.de

Funding: Internal research funding

The aim of the project is to investigate, process, and set the record straight about the prevalence of neuromyths among faculty and students. In part 1 of the proposed project, a German version of a questionnaire on neuromyths was created and piloted. For this purpose, existing English questionnaires were researched, translated into German (German psychologist with 1st state examination in English) and back-translated by a native speaker (Australian psychologist). Discrepancies were discussed by the translators and wording was adjusted accordingly. Afterwards, the pilot version was given to 36 students of the SRH University. It is clear that neuromyths are also prevalent in the pilot group. The planned second part of the project is to put the data on a broader basis. An online version of the questionnaire will be created so that the prevalence of neuromyths can be studied in a larger sample. The results are to be presented at a conference (probably: conference of the German Society for Higher Education Didactics in Leipzig). Further on, articles and information materials can be created, which then help to present and correct typical misconceptions about the functioning of the brain.

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science, accompanying training and extra-occupational

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Elsner

Duration: WS 17/18

Contact: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Elsner, bernhard.elsner@srh.de

Funding: Internal research funding

Background: Exercise reduces the risk of developing chronic lifestyle diseases. However, it was shown that cardiologists only walk between 5,000 and 6,000 instead of the recommended 10,000-12,000 steps per working day. Comparable figures for physiotherapists and occupational therapists do not yet exist. The prevention needs of this professional group thus remain unclear.

The primary aim of this work is to determine the average number of steps walked by physiotherapists and occupational therapists during an 8-hour workday in Germany.

Methods: The study will be conducted in the design of a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The planned sample size is 30 participants. The sample will be collected as an opportunity sample in Berlin, Gera and Niesky. Included are physiotherapists and occupational therapists who are practically active in the outpatient or inpatient setting. The survey took place in January 2018. The number of steps walked is determined with a pedometer (Omron pedometer Walking Style IV, Omron, Kyoto, Japan). Control variables are number of hours worked per week (ratio scaled), age (ratio scaled), and setting (outpatient/inpatient, categorical). The influence of the control variables on the outcome measure will be examined using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). All statistical analyses will be performed using R statistical software.

Results: Thirty-six physical and occupational therapists were included. The mean (SD) steps walked per working day was 6492 (1603).

Discussion: Similar to cardiologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists also show an increased need for prevention with regard to their work-related physical activity behavior. Further studies on a larger and systematically collected sample are called for.

Course of studies: Education and support in childhood, B. A.

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Anne Henning

Collaborator: Nina Hampel, B.A. (former student of the study program Education and Support in Childhood)

Duration: SS 20

Contact: Prof. Dr. Anne Henning, anne.henning@srh.de

Funding: internal research funding

"No!" "Alone!" - As his motor skills increase and he discovers his self in the second year of life, the young child begins to increasingly detach himself from his parents, strive for autonomy, and develop his own will. The child in the autonomy phase also recognizes when his desires and plans of action exceed his abilities or do not match his (social) environment, leading to frustration and defiant behavior. However, the child cannot yet adequately deal with this frustration and therefore needs the co-regulatory support of the parents to be able to develop his self-regulatory abilities. To address this interdependence, Pauen and colleagues developed a parent questionnaire on IMpulsMAnagement from infancy to preschool age (IMMA 1-6, Pauen, Bechtel-Kühne & Strodthoff, 2018) for German-speaking countries that takes into account both the child's self-regulatory behavior and the parents' expectations of their child's self-regulatory abilities and parental co-regulatory behavior in situations that are challenging for the child. Since this questionnaire specifically focuses on frustrating and challenging situations, it is of fundamental interest to what extent child and parental behavior on child impulse management in these situations characteristic of the autonomy phase is related to parental parenting style in general, collected via a relevant parenting questionnaire.

The aim of the research project, which was conducted as part of the bachelor thesis of Ms. Nina Hampel, was thus to investigate the relationship between parental parenting style and child and parental impulse management during the child's autonomy phase.

For this purpose, 43 parents of a child aged 18 to 54 months (girls: 58%, M = 2.6 years, SD = .85; boys: 42%, M = 2.9 years, SD = .74) were surveyed online. The Parenting Style Inventory (EEI, Satow, 2013) was used to assess parental parenting style, and the IMMA 1-6 parenting questionnaire (Pauen et al., 2018) was used to assess child self-regulatory behavior.

The results of the correlation analyses showed correlations consistent with expectations: the more loving the parental parenting style was, the more often children cooperated immediately after parental requests or prohibitions in situations that were frustrating for children. And the stricter the parental parenting style was, the more often parental coregulatory behavior in situations that were frustrating for children was characterized by negative pressure exerted on the child, and the less often parents engaged in conversations and negotiations with their children in these situations. Consistent with previous studies, the present results show that parental negative control is associated with less child compliance, and they suggest that affectionate interactions help children to better regulate their behavior in frustrating situations characteristic of the autonomy phase.

Course of study: Speech therapy, Bachelor of Science, integrated with training, Karlsruhe Campus

Project leader: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Wahn

Duration: October 2018 - April 2019

Contact: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Wahn, claudia.wahn@srh.de

Funding: Internal research funding

If bilingual children have problems with the acquisition of their L2 or show a so-called specific language acquisition disorder (SSES) analogous to monolingual children but manifested in both languages, there are currently no suitable approaches available in practice. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find bilingual children in speech therapy, although they have no "real" need for therapy. Exceptions to this are, of course, children who exhibit SSES. A need for therapy is undoubtedly present here. In both cases, however, the earlier the intervention, the more beneficial it is for language acquisition. In the first case, the intervention serves to prevent and support bilingual learning. In the second case, the intervention aims to make speech therapy effective and efficient so that bilingual children do not remain in speech therapy longer than necessary, analogous to monolingual children. Individual formats were transformed into group formats, practically tested and evaluated (Wahn, 2016a; Wahn, 2016b). The positive results for the now 76 support and therapy units with a total of 912 hours, provide a good basis in terms of content to support daycare centers and elementary schools in designing language-specific support services as well as to offer speech therapists an effective and efficient framework for designing speech therapy for bilingual children. The research work to date has been carried out in-house, and funding will be provided for publication in book format (international scientific publisher Peter Lang in the "Sprachtherapie - Sprachförderung" series of editors).

EBP@S(RH) – Evidence based Physiotherapy after stroke

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, B. Sc.

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Gudrun Diermayr (SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg)

Collaborators: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Elsner (SRH University of Applied Sciences)

Duration: 01.10.2017- 31.03.2019

Contact: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Elsner, bernhard.elsner@srh.de

Funding: SRH-Förderstiftung

Funding volume: 6,240 euros

One in 6 people worldwide will suffer a stroke during their lifetime. Every second one of them suffers from a permanent disability from then on. In rehabilitation, physiotherapy is an important component both in the treatment during hospitalization and afterwards.

The scientific findings of recent years have led to a change in the role image in physiotherapy. Today, the focus is on "coaching" rather than "treating" patients, leading to an understandable and conscientious incorporation of the current best available scientific evidence in the care of each patient. Incorporating this evidence-based practice into the outpatient care of post-stroke patients is the goal of a joint research project called "EBP@S(RH)", which involves a working group of scientists and practitioners from four SRH companies (SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg, SRH University of Applied Sciences for Health, SRH Health Center Bad Wimpfen, SRH Kurpfalzklinikum Heidelberg). They are supported by the University of Toronto and the FH Campus Wien.

The aim of this international working group is to develop and evaluate a survey for physiotherapy practices that treat patients with stroke. In addition, patient needs in post-stroke inpatient care will be assessed and finally a literature review on evidence-based interventions in the outpatient setting for patients will be developed. Bringing these pilot projects together will serve as a starting point for the development of specific measures to improve the care situation, which will then be investigated in further, follow-up projects.

Duration: 1 year

Founder: SRH Förderstiftung and the Thuringian Ministry of Social Affairs, Family and Health

Funding amount: 40.000 €

After the entry into force of the SGB IX in 2001 and the Frühförderungsverordnung (FrühV) in 2003, a nationwide implementation of their legal and professional requirements is still pending. This also applies to Thuringia. In order to make the work of early intervention transparent and to be able to evaluate the success of far-reaching restructuring and thus the effectiveness of the use of financial resources, current data from the early intervention facilities appear to be indispensable. The Ministry of Social Affairs has therefore commissioned the Institute for Interdisciplinary Early Intervention at our university to collect this data.

The study is divided into two parts: In the first part, the previous framework conditions of early intervention in Thuringia are surveyed as a starting point for changes in the run-up to the implementation of the state framework agreement on complex early intervention services. The aim is also to make the confusing system of early intervention more transparent. Accordingly, the results are important for the conception and further development of an effective "interdisciplinary early intervention" - as required by law. The study will provide important clues about current practice.

The second part will be a follow-up study to record the changes that have occurred or will occur as a result of the establishment of Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Centers. Parallel to this, the respective municipal rehabilitation agencies will also be surveyed about the framework data of early intervention and its design.

Research projects of the study programs

for Aphasia Research and Treatment, Neurodegenerative Diseases Subgroup.

Course of studies: Speech therapy, B. Sc., training-integrated, Campus Düsseldorf and Bonn

Project leaders: Dr. Julia Büttner-Kunert (Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich), Frank Regenbrecht (University Hospital Leipzig), Dr. Ralf Glindemann (Municipal Hospital Munich)

Project leader at the SRH: Prof. Dr. Katharina Dressel

Cooperation partner: Society for Aphasia Research and Treatment (GAB).

Duration: 2018-end still open

Contact: Prof. Dr. Katharina Dressel, katharina.dressel@srh.de

Funding: Bundesverband Klinische Linguistik (BKL): 8,000 euros; Gesellschaft für Aphasieforschung und -behandlung e.v. (GAB): 2,500 (travel funds for working group meetings; start-up funding for preliminary work; BMBF funding line "Small Subjects - Great Potentials": funding for working group meeting on Cognitive Communication Disorders, Feb. 27, 2020 - Feb. 29, 2020, Cologne (applicant Dr. Rosenkranz, University of Cologne); DFG network application for funding of further meetings in planning.

The Germany-wide Cognitive Communication Disorders Working Group of the Society for Aphasia Research and Treatment (GAB) meets regularly to develop standards of resource-oriented diagnosis of communicative and linguistic performance in cognitive communication disorders of different etiologies. For 2021, under the leadership of Dr. Julia Büttner (LMU Munich) and Dr. Kristina Jonas (University of Cologne), a DFG network proposal is planned to support meetings of the network members as well as possible publications, and invitations of (international) national scientists.

Course of study: Speech therapy, B. Sc., integrated training, Heidelberg Campus

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Juliane Klann

Cooperation partner: University Hospital Mannheim, advising: University of Gothenburg

Duration: since SS 2019

Contact: Prof. Dr. Juliane Klann, juliane.klann@srh.de

The project is in the planning stage and aims to create a practicable test procedure and especially criteria for the evaluation of linguistic performance changes in brain-operated patients via third-party funding. Brain surgery is increasingly performed on awake patients, as this is the only way to prevent cognitive performance loss due to substrate damage during surgery. For this purpose, patients are subjected to language performance tests before, during and after surgery. Depending on the location of the incision, these must be selected highly specifically to reveal any immediate functional impairment (word generation tests, for example, do not reveal syntactic impairments). Due to the highly interconnected language system, this assignment is difficult to make in advance. In international research, therefore, the question is still open as to which services should be tested when and how precisely in order to provide the highest possible protection of intact language services from intraoperative and lasting damage. Furthermore, the question arises again and again which criteria have to be applied to a clear evaluation of intraoperative testing in order to ensure that it is indeed a relevant impairment and not a relic of sedation, excitement or the like. Since the interpretation of an abnormality as a relevant impairment is essential to the decision to discontinue or continue tumor removal, the criteria must be developed in an evidence-based manner. Both questions are addressed by the project, which has already produced a bachelor thesis in the planning phase.

Development of an ergonomically optimized model of the care trolley

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, B. Sc., training-integrated

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum

Cooperation partner: Bergische Universität Wuppertal, course of studies industrial design.

Duration: 2016-2017

Contact: Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum, melvin.mohokum@srh.de

Members of nursing professions have both high physical and high psychological work demands. Nurses often work standing up, have to lift heavy loads more often, and perform their work more often in a forced posture compared to other professions. Added to this are psychological stress factors such as shift, weekend and night duty as well as time pressure and frequent breaks.

The nature of the work performed plays a significant role in the manifestation and development of an illness. The extent of absenteeism is also affected. Particularly in the nursing professions, the days of incapacity to work are significantly higher than the average of 590.9 days of incapacity to work per 100 insured years, with a total of 758.5 days of incapacity to work per 100 insured years. The evaluation is based on AOK members in 2016. The DAK Health Report also consistently reports high sickness-related absences in nursing professions. In terms of sickness absence, the healthcare sector generally performs poorly on average across Germany anyway.

Musculoskeletal disorders therefore occur frequently as a result of the physical stresses and strains specific to the nursing profession. According to an evaluation by WidO, 22.6% of all sick leaves in nursing are attributable to the main diagnosis group of musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, nursing staff are often ill frequently and for long periods. Many nurses do not reach the legal retirement age due to health problems.

In order to reduce musculoskeletal complaints of nursing staff in inpatient care, an ergonomically optimized model of a nursing trolley was developed.

Publication: Brennecke, F., Topel, M., Kalweit, A., Mohokum, M. (2017) Ergonomisch arbeiten mit Carego. Heilberufe - Das Pflegemagazin, 2017, 69 (6), 40-42.

- A complex intervention study

Course of studies: Medical Education, B. A.

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Marion Burckhardt

Cooperation partners: Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Sana Heart Surgery Stuttgart

Laufzeit: 31.12.2017-31.10.2020

Contact: Prof. Dr. Marion Burckhardt, marion.burckhardt@srh.de

Funding: Internal research funding by Sana Cardiac Surgery.

Background: 155,000 nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTIs) were registered in Germany in 2011. A large proportion of these are caused by urinary tract catheters (UTIs).

Purpose: The primary objective is to reduce the incidence of catheter-associated UTIs in a cardiac surgery hospital.

Methods: A complex intervention consisting of several bundles of measures developed in collaboration with medical and nursing staff will be implemented. Evaluation of the intervention will be conducted as a before-and-after study with time series analyses (interrupted time series) and concomitant process evaluation.

Results: The study was terminated early due to the Corona pandemic. Interim results showed a significant but not relevant reduction in catheter length of stay and a non-significant reduction in urinary tract infections.

- Evaluation of a structured and guideline-based multimodal care concept for people with acne inversa

Course of studies: Medical Education, B. A.

Project management: Prof. Dr. Marion Burckhardt

Cooperation partners: German Society for Wound Healing and Wound Treatment (DGfW), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Techniker Krankenkasse, BARMER

Contact: Prof. Dr. Marion Burckhardt, marion.burckhardt@srh.de Funding: Internal research funding of the German Society for Wound Healing and Wound Treatment (DGfW)

Acne inversa (Ai) is an inflammatory disease of the skin that affects approximately one percent of the population. Abscesses and fistulous ducts form, mainly in the armpits and groin, which secrete foul-smelling secretions and cause severe pain. Acne inversa is a disease that occurs mainly in young people and can lead to permanent physical limitations, inability to work and social isolation. In mainstream care, Ai patients are often not properly diagnosed or cared for according to the severity of their condition. Adequate treatment of this complex disease requires special clinical expertise.

The project aims to establish so-called acne inversa centers (AiC) in doctors' practices and clinics as well as in wound centers throughout Germany. Here, patients are to be optimally treated with a structured, interdisciplinary treatment path. Since many risk factors of Ai are environmental, great emphasis is also placed on educating Ai patients about these negative environmental influences. In order to determine the success of AiZ, approximately 600 patients will be examined in a study. Of these, half will be treated according to current medical standards and the other half will be referred to an AiZ. The project will be funded for three years with a total of approximately 4.4 million euros.

If successful, the AiZs will help reduce the burden of disease on patients and greatly improve their quality of life. At the same time, it is expected that the healthcare system will also be significantly relieved in the long term.

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, B. Sc., training-integrated

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum

Cooperation partner: Springer Verlag Heidelberg

Duration: 2016-2017

Contact: Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum, melvin.mohokum@srh.de

Modern companies purposefully and systematically promote the health maintenance of their employees. The state and health insurance funds also support prevention concepts in the company setting. Competent actors are needed for the professional implementation of workplace health promotion (WHP) measures. The aim of this project was to develop a guide for protagonists, in particular physiotherapists, to support them in the implementation of health promotion projects.

The guide imparts important basics on the topic of BGF, but also specific technical content on needs analysis, action planning, implementation and evaluation. It also includes contextual knowledge on contract acquisition, concept development and marketing strategies.

Publication: Mohokum, M., Dördelmann, J. (2017) Workplace Health Promotion. A guide for physical therapists. Springer Verlag, Heidelberg and Berlin

Course of studies: Social Work, B. A.

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Sandra Meusel

Staff involved: Hendrik Unger, B.A. Social Work student, 6th semester

Cooperation partner: Diana Paschek, Special Representative for Securing Skilled Workers and Project Manager Human Resources DevelopmentWithEffect Parity Thuringia

Laufzeit: 01.04.2020-31.12.2020

Contact: Prof. Dr. Sandra Meusel, sandra.meusel@srh.de

Digitalization as a megatrend also affects social work. The research project investigates the extent to which the Corona crisis is changing the way professionals access their addressees and vice versa via digital media. In particular, formats such as e-mail, video conferencing, social networks and online participation will be examined. Furthermore, obstacles in the use of digital communication media will be examined. The data will be collected via an online questionnaire in the period from 09.06.2020 to 31.07.2020. The 137 participants are mainly from Thuringia (42.34%) and Saxony (28.47%). The results will be analyzed in the context of a bachelor thesis and published in 2021 in the anthology on the topic "Corona, Social Work and Society. New Perspectives and Paths" (Verlag Beltz Juventa).

How values and norms of a society are conveyed through games

Course of studies: Methodology in health and social sciences

Project leader: Prof. Susanne Hardecker, Prof. Daniel Haun (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig)

Collaborators: Sarah Peoples (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig)

Cooperation partners: Leipzig Research Center for Early Childhood Development, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig.

Laufzeit: 01.08.2016-31.03.2020

Contact: Prof. Dr. Susanne Hardecker, susanne.hardecker@srh.de

For at least 4000 years, people all over the world have been playing games. However, while play behavior in humans and animals has been extensively studied, behavioral research has largely ignored the existence of rule-based games in humans. The present project aims to fill this gap using an interdisciplinary approach from developmental psychology and cultural anthropology. The underlying hypothesis is that the structure of games is shaped by the structure of the society that plays the game. Therefore, what is valued in our society might also be rewarded on the playing field. For example, cooperative and competitive behavior can be fostered through games, as well as skills of cooperation, interpersonal understanding, and empathy. To pursue this idea, a new game typology will be designed (capturing social and reward structure) as well as an instrument to measure social values across development, cultures, and history. A developmental psychology approach will be used to find out what games children in different cultures are taught as well as invent themselves, and whether these games reflect the different social values of their culture. All this research will help us to understand a little bit how it is possible for human societies to be stable and yet flexible as they are passed down through generations. In the complex puzzle of human cultures, games could play an important role as carriers and messengers of societal moral values.

Course of study: Physiotherapy, B. Sc., training-integrated at the Leverkusen Campus

Project leader: Prof. Gabor Kovacs (SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Berlin School of Design and Communication)

Participating staff: Prof. Dr. habil. Michael Tiemann (SRH University of Applied Sciences)

Cooperation partners: SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Digital Health (IDG), German Adult Education Association (DVV)

Laufzeit: 01.04.2020-31.12.2020

Contact: Prof. Dr. habil. Michael Tiemann, michael.tiemann@srh.de

Funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

The core objectives of the research project "Family Literacy - Health-Related Basic Education (FLiGe)" are the expansion of health-related basic competencies in the population within the framework of the AlphaDecade as well as the development of learning offers that can be used equally for participants with and without a migration background or refugee experience under the condition of a certain literacy and language level.

The evaluation of the project focuses on these core objectives and comprises three areas: In the core evaluation, qualitative interviews with course instructors and participants in the newly developed learning program "FLiGe" will be used to examine the realities of life and, in particular, central parameters of health literacy of the target groups addressed. In this context, the handling and usability of the digital learning program will also be evaluated. In addition, an innovation and meta-evaluation will be conducted. The innovation evaluation will determine whether and to what extent the "FLiGe" learning program can contribute to a positive overall development of the healthcare system. The meta-evaluation focuses on critical self-reflection with regard to the quality of the evaluation study, in particular with regard to the aspects of "usefulness", "feasibility" and "accuracy", as well as the sustainability of the intervention.

Funding:

Course of study: Physiotherapy, B. Sc., training-integrated at the Leverkusen Campus

Project leader: Prof. Dr. habil. Michael Tiemann, Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum

Cooperation partner: Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg

Duration: 01.03.2017-30.04.2021

Contact: Prof. Dr. habil. Michael Tiemann (michael.tiemann@srh.de), Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum (melvin.mohokum@srh.de)

With its Major Reference works (including natural sciences, medicine, psychology, economics), Springer-Verlag offers comprehensive, interdisciplinary publications. Due to the advancing academization and the growing number of study programs in the field of nursing, therapy and health sciences, the demand for such relevant reference works is growing in the German-speaking countries. In addition, many courses of study are interdisciplinary and require interdisciplinary thinking and work. In contrast to rigid book formats, a major advantage of the Reference works is that they can be constantly updated via the online LiveReference version. This means that all finished chapters are not only published online immediately, but can also be adapted to the latest findings at any time.

Profound societal changes such as demographic change and multimorbidity, among others, require a reorientation of health care in Germany. In this modern health care system, prevention and health promotion play a central role.

The aim of this project is to develop a Reference work on the topic of "Prevention and Health Promotion", which will be available to students, scientists and health professionals. Renowned experts and teams of authors are invited to contribute a wide range of articles on relevant topics related to prevention and health promotion.

The editors of this Reference work are Prof. Dr. habil. Michael Tiemann and Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum.

"Epidural spinal cord stimulation" for the therapy of chronic pain

Project Management: Prof. Dr. Jan Vesper (Düsseldorf), Prof. Dr. Michael Kretzschmar and others

Cooperation partners: German Society for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, German Society for Angiology, German Society for Cardiology, German Society for Neurosurgery, German Society for Neuromodulation, German Society for Neurology, German Society for Psychological Pain Therapy and Research, German Pain Society e.V.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Michael Kretzschmar, michael.kretzschmar@srh.de

Funding: Internal research funding of the German Society for Neuromodulation (DGNM).

Background: The S3 guideline prepared in 2013 needs to be adapted to the current state of science. Objective: To update the S3 guideline.

Evaluation of structured word processing training in Alzheimer's dementia.

Course of study: Speech therapy, B. Sc., integrated training, Düsseldorf and Bonn campuses

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Irene Ablinger-Borowski, Prof. Dr. Katharina Dressel

Cooperation partners: Memory Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital RWTH Aachen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Bonn

Contact: Prof. Dr. Irene Ablinger-Borowski, irene.ablinger@srh.de; Prof. Dr. Katharina Dressel, katharina.dressel@srh.de

In the planned project, for the first time, a written language-based approach will be combined with error-reduced learning methods adapted to dementia and systematically evaluated. An essential factor of this project is that strengths and resources of people with Alzheimer's dementia are recognized early and used sensibly in text work, so that functional communicative abilities are supported and maintained as long as possible. A corresponding project proposal was included in this year's final selection round of the German Alzheimer Society's research funding, but was not considered in the final selection step. A submission to the DFG is planned.

A randomized-controlled trial of the use of texts in dyslexia therapy

Course of study: Speech therapy, B. Sc., integrating training, Bonn Campus

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Ablinger-Borowski (SRH University of Applied Sciences), Prof. Ralph Radach (Bergische Universität Wuppertal)

Duration: Project proposal submitted to DFG

Contact: Prof. Dr. Irene Ablinger-Borowski, irene.ablinger@srh.de

Regardless of the severity of aphasia, reading normal texts is a vital goal of therapy and rehabilitation for many patients. Based on data from a pilot study, the planned project aims to develop for the first time a high-frequency text reading training for moderately severe reading disorders and to apply it in the clinic. Individual difficulties in reading and text comprehension will be diagnosed and systematically addressed within the framework of a structured, phased approach with specifically set treatment goals. In order to be able to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of text reading training, it will be compared with word-based reading therapy in a block randomized controlled group design with regard to performance in text and word reading. An important feature of the therapy is its high intensity over a period of four weeks.

A particularly innovative aspect of the project is the measurement and analysis of eye movements during text reading. In this way, visual and linguistic information processing can be recorded in real time and individual deficits of patients can be identified on the basis of local eye movement patterns. Of particular theoretical importance is the differentiation of training and transfer effects.

Hand in hand with the expected high benefit for basic research, the planned project is expected to make significant contributions to the further development of outpatient and inpatient patient care according to evidence-based criteria on the basis of the ICF criteria.

Attitudes of women with obesity and their practitioners toward cancer screening and treatment.

Course of studies: Mental Health and Psychotherapy, M. Sc.

Project leader: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski

Collaborators: Dr. Marie Bernard, Jennifer Spiegel

Cooperation partners: University of Leipzig, IFB Obesity Diseases, Prof. Dr. Steffi G. Riedel-Heller, Institute for Social Medicine, Occupational Medicine and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig; Prof. Dr. Florian Lordick, University Cancer Center (UCCL), University Hospital Leipzig.

Laufzeit: 01.02.2018-30.04.2020

Contact: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski, claudia.luck-sikorski@srh.de, Dr. Marie Bernard, marie.bernard@srh.de

Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research at the Integrated Research and Treatment Center Obesity Diseases Leipzig (IFB).

Background: Although women with obesity face a higher risk of cancer, research shows that they are less likely to seek health and preventive care services. The reasons for this lower or delayed utilization are still largely unknown. To improve the data base in this field in Germany, the project aimed to assess (i) cancer screening behavior and (ii) perceived reasons for or against the use of cancer screening services among women with obesity. In addition, (iii) quantitative and (iv) qualitative methods were used to capture the practitioner perspective. The project aimed to generate preliminary findings regarding the influence of obesity on cancer screening and to identify possible causes. Analysis of the data showed a significant difference between women with and without obesity. Women with obesity were less likely to receive screening for cervical cancer (pap smear: χ²(4)=15.08, p=.005) and breast cancer screening (breast palpation: χ²(4)=14.41, p=.006) than women without obesity. No differences could be found in the use of mammography screening (χ²(6)=4.38, p=.625) and colorectal cancer screening (χ²(6)=2.58, p=.859). Qualitative analysis revealed that some subjects reported inappropriate insinuations regarding obesity during gynecological examinations. Respondents specifically addressed shame as an impeding factor in perceiving gynecologic screenings. Inadequate practice equipment and a lack of accessibility were also listed by the respondents as possible barriers to the use of gynecological screening examinations. The following wishes were expressed by the test persons in order to increase the use of gynecological cancer screening examinations: an optimization of the practice equipment (e.g. the treatment chair), postal invitations to screening examinations, but also appropriate education and communication regarding obesity and gynecological cancer screening examinations.

 

Course of studies: Physiotherapy, B. Sc., training-integrated

Project leader: Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum

Duration: until 31.12.2017

Contact: Prof. Dr. Melvin Mohokum, melvin.mohokum@srh.de

Scanning steorgraphy is an optical measurement method that measures the surface of the back without radiation or contact and can therefore also be used by physiotherapists as an examination and evaluation method. As a result of a single measurement, a reconstructed model of the spine is obtained, which is able to show changes in shape in three dimensions, e.g. scolioses. The aim is to investigate the method of raster stereography in several subprojects.

Previous publications from the subprojects:

Krautwurst, B.K., Paletta J.R., Mendoza, S., Skwara, A. & Mohokum, M. (2018) Rasterstereographic Analysis of Lateral Shift in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Case Control Study. Advances in Orthopedics, Volume 2018, Article ID 6567139.

Mohokum, M., Schuelein, S. & Skwara, A. (2015) Validity of rasterstereography - a systematic review. Orthopedic Reviews, 7 (3):5899

Mohokum, M., Mendoza, S., Wolf, U., Sitter, H., Paletta, J.R., Skwara, A. (2010) Reproducibility of rasterstereography for kyphotic and lordotic angles, trunk length, and trunk inclination: a reliability study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010 Jun 15;35(14):1353-8.

Other research-associated activities

Course of studies: Mental Health and Psychotherapy, M. Sc.

Project leader: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski

Collaborator: Regine Breneise

Cooperation partner: University of Leipzig, IFB AdiposityDiseases, Dr. rer. nat. Tatjana Schütz

Laufzeit: 01.09.2019-28.02.2020

Contact: Prof. Dr. habil. Claudia Luck-Sikorski, claudia.luck-sikorski@srh.de, Regine Breneise, regine.breneise@srh.de

Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research at the Integrated Research and Treatment Center AdiposityDiseases Leipzig (IFB).

Project description:In February 2018, the S3 guideline "Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases" was published.The guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary team led by Prof. Dr. Arne Dietrich (Research Unit Bariatric Surgery of the IFB AdiposityDiseases) and the content-related, methodological, and coordinating collaboration of the applicant on behalf of the German Society of General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV). The aim of this guideline is to systematically evaluate the scientific literature on the effectiveness of bariatric and metabolic surgery, to make it available in the form of recommendations, and thereby to improve the quality of medical care. The addressees of the guideline are not only physicians, associated professional groups and decision-makers in the health care system, but also patients. In particular, the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) points out that ideally a guideline should be supplemented by a patient guideline that is understandable to laypersons and supports patients in their decision-making. Therefore, the preparation of the patient guideline "Surgery for Obesity and Metabolic Diseases" is requested. This incorporates the expertise of the co-applicant who led the creation of the patient guideline on conservative obesity therapy.

Objectives: Preparation of the patient guideline "Surgery for Obesity and Metabolic Diseases" according to a transparent evidence-based procedure based on the specifications of the Medical Center for Quality in Medicine (ÄZQ) and the German Network for Evidence-Based Medicine (EbM Network) and deposited in the Methods Report.

  • with the involvement of the relevant patient associations and the professional societies and associations involved in guideline development
  • with methodological advice from the ÄZQ
  • with content relevant to patients
  • in comprehensible, patient-oriented language for information and decision making
  • their publication on the AWMF website as a supplement to the medical guideline
  • their dissemination in printed form via the participating patient associations and professional societies

Normalization of Wechsler Intelligence Scales on Preschool and School Children.

The Wechsler intelligence tests for children have been the most internationally accepted intelligence test procedures for pupils/students in this age group for over 50 years. Intelligence tests are designed to fairly and reliably assess the performance of pupils/students at different ages and school types. Intelligence also depends on the educational and support services provided. For these reasons, such survey procedures must continue to be developed over the decades and be re-normed at least every ten years.

The most recent version of the Wechsler Intelligence Test is based on the latest scientific findings on the development of various abilities, which are also considered to be the foundations for age-appropriate learning at school. In order to accurately calibrate a newly developed test, it is necessary to examine a large number of children.

In cooperation with the University of Bremen as well as the SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg, our university is conducting the German-language standardization Wechsler Intelligence Scales for preschool and school children in the area of Saxony and Thuringia.

The language assessment test for children between the ages of 3 and 5 (SET 3-5) was developed at the Center for Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation at the University of Bremen and is currently in the standardization phase.

The test makes a comprehensive assessment of the language level adapted to the developmental stage. It assesses vocabulary, semantics, grammar, phonology, phonetics and pragmatics. The procedure is designed with materials appropriate for children. For example, tasks are performed with the child using picture cards and play figures, creating a pleasant atmosphere with a playful character. The children are reviewed for about 60 minutes in a one-on-one setting.

Our university supported the test standardization in 2014 - 2015 by collecting an age- and education-stratified sample of a total of 150 three- to five-year-old girls and boys who attended daycare centers in Gera and the Saale-Holzland district at the time of the survey. For this purpose, the daycare centers were informed about the test request and children were tested according to the sampling plan and with the respective parental consent by a total of 12 trained student test leaders.

In 2014, our university supported the University of Bremen in the validation of a new neuropsychological test procedure, the "Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB)".

This test procedure was developed for neuropsychological diagnostics in adulthood in order to accurately diagnose cognitive impairments in a clinical context following acquired brain damage (e.g. stroke). The test results can be used to identify impairments in the areas of attention, memory, language, perception and planning ability. To date, no test procedure is available in Germany that can be used to collectively examine all of these areas.

In the process of validation, 150 people from Gera and the surrounding area, aged 18-99, took part in the test procedure. Students at the university were given the opportunity of training in the procedure with the subsequent option of working as test administrators and thus expanding their theoretical and practical knowledge in neuropsychological diagnostics.

Duration: 1.5 years

Funding amount: €60,000.00

The research project "Mirror Therapy to Improve Arm and Everyday Functions after Stroke", completed in 2013, investigated the evidence of mirror therapy to improve hand and arm motor function in the treatment of patients after a stroke. The effectiveness of this special treatment method was proven according to the highest scientific standards for systematic reviews. The project was thus able to achieve an important goal of the funding program for the field of neurological rehabilitation, which is considered essential in medicine.

The results were published in the renowned Cochrane Library and in a second publication in Stroke. In addition, the results were presented to professional societies and stakeholders at several national as well as international congresses. The experience gained in the research project is consistently positive and indispensable for future projects in the field of stroke rehabilitation.

Duration: 1 year

Funding amount: 71,527.20

This research project will produce a focused update of a Cochrane systematic review on improving walking ability after stroke through the use of electromechanical-assisted training. Relevant studies are identified by electronic database search without language restriction and hand search. Heterogeneity of results as well as subgroup analysis will be statistically evaluated according to accepted methods. The main outcome criterion is recovery of walking ability after stroke.

Secondary outcome criteria are gait endurance, walking speed, daily living skills, quality of life and treatment acceptance. The results should contribute to the formulation of clear recommendations for or against electromechanical-assisted gait training. The results of the project are expected to be incorporated into practice guidelines. Thus, the quality of patient care can be influenced.

The project also serves to establish a research structure for evidence-based rehabilitation in the central German region and thus, in the medium term, to improve the care of chronically ill patients (patients after stroke). The EGAIT project was submitted for publication at the beginning of January 2013.