Background: Vaccination against COVID-19 has been available in Germany since December 2020. However, about 30% of the population report not wanting to be vaccinated. In order to increase the willingness of the population to get vaccinated, data on the acceptance of vaccination and its influencing factors are necessary. Little is known about why individuals refuse the COVID-19 vaccination. The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons leading to rejecting vaccination, based on posts from three social media sites. Methods: The German-language versions of Instagram, Twitter and YouTube were searched regarding negative attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. Data was extracted until a saturation effect could be observed. The data included posts created from January 20, 2020 to May 2, 2021. This time frame roughly covers the period from the first reports of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 up to the general availability of vaccines against COVID-19 in Germany. We used an interpretive thematic approach to analyze the data and to inductively generate codes, subcategories and categories. Results: Based on 333 posts written by 323 contributing users, we identified six main categories of reasons for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination: Low perceived benefit of vaccination, low perceived risk of contracting COVID-19, health concerns, lack of information, systemic mistrust and spiritual or religious reasons. The analysis reveals a lack of information among users and the spread of misinformation with regard to COVID-19 and vaccination. Users feel inadequately informed about vaccination or do not understand the information available. These information gaps may be related to information not being sufficiently sensitive to the needs of the target group. In addition to limited information for the general population, misinformation on the internet can also be an important reason for refusing vaccination. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the relevance of providing trustworthy and quality-assured information on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination to all population groups. In addition, vaccinations should be easily accessible in order to promote the population’s willingness to be vaccinated.

Background: Family caregivers play a crucial role in care for individuals with dementia, particularly in migrant communities such as families of Turkish descent in Germany. However, caregivers often experience high levels of stress due to cultural expectations, family dynamics, and limited access to support services. Traditional self-help approaches frequently fail to address their diverse needs, necessitating innovative strategies to enhance self-management skills and emotional resilience. Storytelling, a method that facilitates knowledge transfer and emotional expression through narratives, has the potential to empower caregivers by fostering empathy, self-reflection, and problem-solving skills. This study aims to develop and evaluate storytelling interventions that are culturally and linguistically tailored to support Turkish family caregivers in managing caregiving challenges more effectively. Methods: A multi-stage methodological approach was used to develop a diversity-sensitive storytelling intervention for Turkish family caregivers of individuals with dementia. The process included a comprehensive needs assessment through a literature review and qualitative secondary data analysis of interviews. Based on these insights, different caregiver personas were identified, each representing different challenges and caregiving roles. Stories were then developed following principles of effective storytelling, incorporating key themes such as stress management, family conflict resolution, and cultural expectations. A quality assessment was conducted using a pretest with caregivers, applying the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach to refine narratives based on clarity, accessibility, and relatability. Results: The study resulted in the creation of nine storytelling packs, each containing five stories tailored to specific caregiver personas. These narratives were developed in German and translated into Turkish and English to ensure linguistic and cultural accessibility. Pretests indicated that the stories resonated with caregivers, addressing their unique caregiving realities while fostering engagement and perceived emotional support. Feedback led to refinements in language style and narrative structure, ensuring greater clarity and identification with the protagonists. Conclusion: Storytelling shows promise as a supportive intervention for Turkish family caregivers of individuals with dementia by fostering self-management skills and reducing emotional burden. The developed stories provide an inclusive, diversity sensitive approach to addressing caregivers’ challenges, promoting self-reflection, and enhancing support networks. Future research should explore the long-term impact of storytelling interventions and their integration into caregiver support programs to improve well-being and caregiving outcomes.

Background: Scientific research has consistently emphasised the high levels of stress encountered by family caregivers of individuals living with dementia. However, conventional self‐help approaches remain underutilised. The ‘Diversity‐On’ study addresses this issue. The study employs a storytelling approach to develop and evaluate an online self‐help program that is participatory and diversity‐sensitive, thereby ensuring congruence with diverse identities and lifeworlds.Methods: The study uses a mixed‐methods design, comprising the allocation and implementation of the intervention, the development of stories, a process evaluation (N = 20) and an outcome evaluation (quantitative: N = 130, qualitative: N = 20). The study's primary focus is its comprehensive participatory approach, integrated throughout the research process. The study is dependent on the input of a number of stakeholders, all of whom are committed to advocating for the concerns of patients.Discussion: Given its participatory methodology and intersectional perspective, the ‘Diversity‐On’ study is anticipated to yield a number of significant outcomes. The study has the potential to empower family caregivers of individuals living with dementia who are under high stress, empowering them to take part in self‐help groups despite multiple barriers, thus alleviating their burden. Additionally, it has the capacity to promote the well‐being of caregiving relatives who are providing care and are experiencing high levels of stress. The study's objective is to maintain home care arrangements for as long as possible, in accordance with the values and preferences of care recipients and their families. The study intends to develop and assess a customised online self‐help resource that is suitable for a diverse range of users and that remains accessible beyond the study period.Trial Registration: The project is subsequently registered in ClinicalTrials.gov

Background: Participatory and transdisciplinary approaches in health research continue to face challenges such as disciplinary silos, power asymmetries, and a lack of accessible formats that enable meaningful dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience. This study examines the Gallery Walk as a participatory method in health research, using a workshop on diversity and social position in dementia care to reflect on its potential, limitations, and suitability. Methods: Twenty participants — researchers, practitioners, individuals living with dementia, and family caregivers — took part in a Gallery Walk across four themed stations. Contributions were documented on flipcharts to support iterative and cumulative discussion, followed by a plenary synthesis. Results: The Gallery Walk facilitated exchange among heterogeneous groups, supported iterative knowledge building, and generated practice-oriented recommendations. Implementation challenges included the need for careful preparation, skilled facilitation, and adequate resources for documentation and analysis. Discussion: The use of the Gallery Walk Walk in this workshop demonstrates its significant potential as a participatory and interdisciplinary method in health research. By rotating through thematic stations, engaging with visual content, and iteratively addressing key questions, participants were able to incorporate diverse disciplinary and experiential perspectives. This approach fostered the development of practical recommendations and ensured the meaningful involvement of individuals with dementia and their families. The findings highlight that the Gallery Walk's accessibility and focus on visual elements promote discussion, encourage continuous reflection, and increase transparency by visibly tracking contributions. Conclusion: The Gallery Walk represents a promising and adaptable format for participatory, transdisciplinary health research when supported by intentional design, inclusive facilitation, and rigorous reporting.

Family caregivers can be overwhelmed by the care they provide within the family without external support. The development of self-management skills and the associated ability to actively and responsibly manage one’s own health or illness situation therefore plays a vital role in the home care of people living with dementia. As part of an individualized intervention for family caregivers of people of Turkish origin with dementia, existing self-management skills were examined through qualitative interviews to gain insight into health literacy and empowerment in caregiving and in interviewees’ own practices to maintain their health. Ten caregivers of Turkish origin who were responsible for family members living with dementia were interviewed using problem-centered interviews. We found that the target group has very heterogeneous self-management competencies, which are based, on the one hand, on existing supportive resources and, on the other hand, on diverse care-specific, psychosocial and life-world challenges in intrafamily care that have not been overcome. Self-management skills in family caregivers are influenced by a complex interplay of both available resources that support these skills and challenging caregiving situations. This dynamic combination of resources and challenges results in varying levels of self-management ability among family caregivers. Strengthening resources can help caregivers to meet the challenges resulting from caregiving and to expand their self-management competencies. There is great need for action in promoting self-management skills among Turkish caregivers of people living with dementia in home care. Interventions to promote self-management skills must take into account the individual resources of those affected as well as their social and cultural diversity.

In all regions of the world, musculoskeletal disorders are a significant contributor to the burden of chronic illnesses. The effectiveness of treatments, such as rehabilitation, may vary intersectionally across demographic and other categories. The present study examines this intersectionality with respect to a lack of improvement in health conditions after rehabilitation of patients in Germany. Routine data from 298,617 patients aged 18–65 years residing in Germany who received rehabilitation because of arthropathies, dorsopathies, or soft tissue disorders during 2006–2016 were included in the analysis. Odds of the outcome were compared across demographic groups and across diagnostic sub-groups by means of multivariable logistic regression. Interaction terms were included to examine intersectional differences across these groups and over time. Women were more likely than men to have an impairment despite treatment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.11; 95%-CI = 1.08, 1.13). In addition, patients in semi-skilled/unskilled employment were at higher odds of a poor outcome compared to patients in skilled positions (aOR = 1.13; 95%-CI = 1.10–1.17). Nationality also affected health care outcomes, with Turkish nationals and nationals from a Yugoslav successor state having higher odds of a poor outcome than Germans (aOR = 1.56; 95%-CI = 1.45–1.67 and aOR = 1.52; 95%-CI = 1.41–1.65, respectively). The findings highlight the importance of an intersectional perspective in health research and practice and can support the development of strategies and measures that aim to reduce disparities in health care.