[Participatory research : Meaning, concept, objectives and methods].

Shaping one's own life and feeling equal in society is an essential aspect of participation. Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Social Security Code IX and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), participation is relevant for the German health system. The cross-sectional discipline of participation research investigates conditions for self-determined and equal participation in society.

[Informed decisions: patient and consumer information at the German Agency for Quality in Medicine (ÄZQ)].

The concept of informed decision making does not only comply with the ideals of the self-determining citizen. In politics and society it is more and more understood as an individual obligation. In order to be capable of making competent decisions regarding treatment options, citizens have to be provided with high quality information.

[Which information relatives of patients with cancer are searching for? Are the findings helpful for coping and care?].

The question of how the relatives and friends of women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer research illness-related subjects was examined by means of an online questionnaire. The relatives and friends use the internet primarily to inform themselves, but also to convey information further to the sick person. Often, they research for the patient who is not familiar with the medium.