Patients and their relatives with a history of migration often find it difficult to access important information and services due to language and cultural barriers in the healthcare system. The "DivO-Inform" project aims to specifically improve the healthcare conditions for people with a migration background in Germany. The focus is on oncological care, i.e. the care of patients during cancer treatment.

Professor Birte Berger-Höger from the University of Bremen explains the aim of the DivO-Inform project: "Our focus is on developing and testing a concept that creates and disseminates diversity-friendly health information that takes the specific needs and preferences of people with a migration background into account. We believe this to be an important measure for improving healthcare, particularly in the area of supportive therapies in oncology, which play an important role in the treatment of cancer patients."

Supportive therapy includes procedures that reduce the acute and delayed effects of cancer treatment. The treatment methods include psychological support, nutritional concepts, and exercise programs, in addition to drug therapies to combat side effects.

The project also aims to create diversity-friendly health information that is available in different languages and formats to ensure that it is easily accessible and adequately addresses the needs and preferences of patients.

Project leader Professor Anke Steckelberg from the University Medical Center Halle explains: "Our goal is to improve healthcare for people with a migration background in the field of oncology by specifically addressing their needs and preferences. By developing diversity-appropriate health information, we want to ensure that this population group has access to the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health."

Collaboration with Charité and Migration Organizations

The DivO-Inform project is being carried out in close cooperation with Professor Julia Lühnen from Charité Berlin and the Saxony-Anhalt State Network of Migrant Organizations (LAMSA e.V.). Mamad Mohamad from LAMSA e.V. emphasizes: "Ensuring comprehensive healthcare for all population groups is of crucial importance. Through our project, we can help ensure that the needs, challenges, and preferences of people with a history of migration are adequately addressed. The provision of health information must be effective and fully accessible to ensure that language barriers do not limit participation in healthcare."

The project runs until June 30, 2025 and is supported by German Cancer Aid.

Further Information:

Project website DivO-Inform

Contact:

Prof. Dr. phil. Birte Berger-Höger
Head of the Department for Evaluation and Implementation Research in Nursing Science
Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP)
Faculty 11: Human and Health Sciences
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-68900
Email: birte.berger-hoegerprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de