Self-help groups challenge health care systems in the US and UK

Purpose: This research considers how self-help groups (SHGs) and self- help organizations (SHOs) contribute to consumerist trends in two different societies: United States and United Kingdom. How do the health care systems and the voluntary sectors affect the kinds of social changes that SHGs/SHOs make? Methodology/approach: A review of research on the role of SHGs/SHOs in contributing to national health social movements in the UK and US was made. Case studies of the UK and the US compare the characteristics of their health care systems and their voluntary sector. Research reviews of two community level self-help groups in each country describe the kinds of social changes they made. Findings: The research review verified that SHGs/SHOs contribute to national level health social movements for patient consumerism. The case studies showed that community level SHGs/SHOs successfully made the same social changes but on a smaller scale as the national movements, and the health care system affects the kinds of community changes made. Research limitations: A limited number of SHGs/SHOs within only two societies were studied. Additional SHGs/SHOs within a variety of societies need to be studied. Originality/value of chapter Community SHGs/SHOs are often trivialized by social scientists as just inward-oriented support groups, but this chapter shows that local groups contribute to patient consumerism and social changes but in ways that depend on the kind of health care system and societal context

Studying local voluntary organisations Purpose, methods and findings

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:f99/3296 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Adult learning in voluntary organisations Volume 3; case studies 16-30

Vol. 3 of 3 volsAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:95/02010 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Adult learning in voluntary organisations Volume 2; case studies 3-15

Vol 2. of 3 volsAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:95/02009 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Voluntary Organisations : Citizenship, Learning and Change, 1989-1993

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The purpose of this study was to construct a typology of local voluntary organisations; to investigate the formal and informal, educational and educative impact which they make on individuals, groups and communities, and the extent and methods of transmission and the effect on the quality of life; to note the origins and characteristics of good practice; to put forward any recommendations, from the findings, on the implications for national and local policy and for training and development.Main Topics:1. learning and change experienced by members and staff of a sample of 31 LVOs, sub-divided into social and group, content, occupational, political, and personal learning; transmission of LVOs' impact to individuals and communities, and the effect on the quality of life and citizenship; networking of VOs, among themselves and with statutory bodies, professionals and local business, with reference to the parts played by enabling organisations and individuals; characteristics and development of LVOs; learning in relation to LVOs' characteristics; comparison of men's and women's activities in LVOs; terminal educational age; leadership in LVOs. Categoric variables were constructed from the data of the two Surveys: forms of learning; methods and extents of transmission; strengths of links in networks; specialist/generalist VOs; inward/outward-looking VOs; dynamic/static/divergent VOs; degrees of incongruence in LVOs; leadership; participation in voluntary activities