Health Services Research

Our goal is

to develop theoretical, conceptual and methodological foundations for health services research and to contribute to evidence-based improvements in health care for practitioners.

Our research

We work in multidisciplinary and (inter)national projects focusing on evidence-based, patient-oriented and practice-relevant research. Here you can find more information about our publications and projects.

Our teaching

With a variety of different courses, we teach in the Public Health/ Health Science (BA and MA) programs at the Department 11 Human - and Health Sciences. We supervise bachelor and master theses and doctoral dissertations.

Our focuses

Our thematic focus areas are the interface between health care and public health, health care for disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups and nutritional behaviour.

Our methodological focus is on evidence-based health care, the evaluation of health care using qualitative and quantitative methods and needs-orientation and active participation in health research.

Our thematic focus areas

Interface between healthcare and public health/public health services

Healthcare in Germany is increasingly taking place outside areas covered by the (social) health and at the interface between health care and public health/public health services. Until now research has mostly been orientated inside sector boundaries. We therefore conduct research across these sector boundaries.

Health care for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups

There are a number of groups that are excluded from regular healthcare or are only insufficiently reached. Examples include people without health insurance, people in special emergencies and people whose suffering is primarily due to social determinants. Not only access to care, but also to research is difficult for these groups. We focus on research with these groups and develop methods for appropriate participation.

Nutritional behaviour

The nutritional behaviour of different population groups depends on a variety of factors. When investigating these factors, the focus is on developing target group-oriented interventions to sustainably improve nutritional quality and eating behaviour. Our projects include population groups that face particular challenges in terms of healthy eating behaviour, such as children or shift workers.

Methodological focus areas

Evaluation of health care with qualitative and quantitative methods

Evaluation examines whether the objectives pursued with a health-related intervention have been achieved and attempts to identify the reasons if this has not been successful. These objectives often have to be identified or defined at the beginning of an evaluation. We apply participatory approaches to define objectives, use theory of change/impact models to structure the evaluation and usually apply a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. 

Needs-orientation and active participation in health research

Patients and population groups with different needs are at the centre of healthcare. There are often inequalities in the ability to express their own wishes and needs, which can lead to unequal care. Our research develops methods to take social, cultural and ethical aspects into account and actively involve those affected. One focus is on patient involvement, where patients help to shape the research that affects them. Participation promotes the quality and relevance of research as well as patient empowerment and contributes to more equitable care.

Evidence-based health care

Good healthcare offers appropriate solutions for the needs and goals of very different people. Not every health measure that appears sensible at first glance leads to the desired effects. The aim of evidence-based health care (EbHC) is to distinguish effective measures from ineffective - or even harmful - ones. Measures are considered ‘evidence-based’ if their effects have been scientifically investigated and they have been proven to be beneficial.

Whether an intervention is beneficial or harmful depends not only on its medical effects, but also on social, cultural and ethical aspects as well as the environment in which it is used. In our department, we develop and test concepts and methods with which the complex measures of healthcare can be evaluated comprehensively and practically.