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Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology

Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology

Social medicine focuses on the social conditions and implications of illness and health, and on exploring the impact which social and political factors have on illness and health. Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the causes of disease conditions. It offers methodical and methodological tools to explore determinants of illness and health, with the aim of improving health in entire populations. Thus, social medicine and epidemiology are essential theoretical and methodical basic subjects in medical-scientific education at the Brandenburg Medical School. Our concept of medical education places particular emphasis on the sound conveyance of empirical-scientific research methods, training in critical assessment of acquired knowledge, and on developing an awareness of social and institutional influences on illness and health.

Teaching and research activities at the Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology aim to contribute to an excellent and person-centred system of health care and research. Key research interests resulting from this general objective are:

systematic identification and recording of patient experiences with health care
consistent integration of qualitative and quantitative research methods
further development of approaches to integrate different data formats
development of mixed-method study designs for health services research

The Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology is a member of DIPEx Germany and the umbrella organisation DIPEx international. This international research network systematically explores and compares experiences with illness and health reported by individuals. Registered findings are used in research and also as a source of information for other affected persons, scientists and caregivers. The network presents experiences of illness and health, processed scientifically and sorted according to topics and persons, on their website krankheitserfahrungen.de.

In addition the Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology is a partner institution of the NaviCare research network at the Charité Berlin. The network aims to create a research structure to establish patient-oriented health services research in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg. In this context Prof. Dr. Christine Holmberg organises a monthly colloquium on care research in collaboration with PD Dr. Nina Rieckmann and Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Müller-Nordhorn, primarily for doctoral candidates who address topics from patient-centred care research.

Further important research partnerships include the National Cancer Institute (US, nci.gov), in particular the department of cancer prevention and the clinical research organisation NRG Oncology.

Direction and contact

Direction:
Prof. Dr. phil. Christine Holmberg, MA, MPH
Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology

Contact:
Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane
Hochstrasse 15
14770 Brandenburg an der Havel
E-Mail: christine.holmberg@mhb-fontane.de

Health services research

Studies still recruiting participants

AMD Care: Age-related macular degeneration and its implications from the perspective of affected persons and caregivers

One of the consequences of demographic change is an increasing number of elderly patients with visual impairments, primarily due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Advanced stages of the illness make human or technical assistance indispensable, e.g. with daily household chores, driving, or reading books. Advisory services on medical aids or psychosocial support are available to affected individuals who wish to maintain a maximum of independence. However, access to pertinent advice appears to be difficult for the age group, with insufficient information as a result.

The AMD Care project aims to identify and analyse existing barriers to the use of advisory services on medical aids and psychosocial support. Researchers determine the level of knowledge among opticians and ophthalmologists about advisory services on medical aids and psychosocial support, and explore the life-world experience and perception of elderly AMD patients.

AMD Care will use study findings to develop strategies to improve the distribution and knowledge of advisory services on medical aids and psychosocial support via ophthalmologists, opticians, general practitioners and other health professionals.

Sponsor:

Friebe Foundation

NAVICARE – Network to strengthen patient-oriented health services research

Germany’s healthcare system is highly specialized and at the same time seriously fragmented. This is a challenge specifically to chronically ill and multi-morbid patients. Innovative care models may serve to remove existing barriers and bridge resulting supply gaps. So called patient navigators constitute a possible approach already employed in countries such as the United States. Navigators are specially trained to accompany and support patients even beyond the limits of the usual care structures and thus facilitate “navigation” within a fragmented care system.

The NAVICARE network combines the expertise and methodological competences of various project partners and also includes stakeholders and patient representatives. Objectives apart from research and networking are improved training in health services research and the promotion of young researchers. The Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the project site, with Prof. Holmberg as one of the co-applicants.

Project duration:

2017-2020

Sponsor:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Studies with completed data collection

DIPEx

The experience of other affected persons is of core importance in coping with illness; but not much is known to date about ways in which individual illness narratives, scientifically researched and made available to others, are actually used. One aim of DIPEx Oncology was to make such illness-related experiences of patients with prostate, breast and colorectal cancer available at krankheitserfahrungen.de, and to evaluate this service with a view to strengthening patient competence (Giesler et al. 2017). Interview data are further analysed, e.g. in regard of cancer patients’ information needs (Blödt et al. 2018).

Sponsors:

Federal Ministry of Health (National Cancer Plan)
Krebsallianz (https://www.krebsallianz.de)

Cooperation partners:

DIPEx Germany
University of Freiburg
Joachim Weis (University of Freiburg, Tumor Biology Clinic)
Juergen M. Giesler (Unversity of Freiburg, Institute of Medical Biometrics and Statistics)
Psychoonkology (Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité)
Interdisciplinary Breast Center (Charité)
Interdisciplinary Prostate Center (IPZ) (Charité)
Stiftung Männergesundheit – Men’s Health Foundation

Selected publications:

Blödt S, Kaiser M, Adam Y et al: Understanding the role of health information in patients’ experiences: secondary analysis of qualitative narrative interviews with people diagnosed with cancer in Germany. BMJ Open
Giesler JM, Keller B, Repke T, Leonhart R, Weis J, Muckelbauer R, Rieckmann N, Müller-Nordhorn J, Lucius-Hoene G, Holmberg C: Effect of a Website That Presents Patients’ Experiences on Self-Efficacy and Patient Competence of Colorectal Cancer Patients: Web-Based Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR
Lucius-Hoene G, Holmberg C, Meyer T (Hrsg): Illness Narratives in Practice: Potentials and Challenges of Using Narratives in Health-related Contexts. 2018. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Decision Making in Patients at Risk for Breast Cancer

In the US tamoxifen and raloxifene, two selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), are approved for breast cancer risk reduction since both SERMs have shown to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer by 50%. The study´s primary aim was to describe the influence of social, environmental and psychological factors (sociality of medication intake, life-events, understanding of prevention, clinical situation) on the decision of women at risk for breast cancer for taking chemoprevention agents (Holmberg et al. 2017). Secondary aims are to understand the implications of and influences on decision making that a diagnosis of 'being at risk for breast cancer' has for women, to develop a survey that identifies the factors that influence the decision-making process of women at high risk of breast cancer who are considering chemoprevention, and to understand, what factors hinder women from taking chemoprevention for breast cancer (e.g. Blakeslee et al 2017; Gunn et al 2017).

Förderer:

National Cancer Institute

Kooperationspartner:

NRG Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center (Division of Cancer Medicine: Dr. Therese Bevers)
Boston University Medical Center (Center of Excellence in Women’s Health: Tracy Battaglia)
University of Utah (Department of Population Health Sciences: Angela Fagerlin)

Ausgewählte Publikationen:

Holmberg C et al, NRG Oncology/National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Decision-Making Project-1 Results: Decision Making in Breast Cancer Risk Reduction.2017, Journal for Cancer Prevention
Blakeslee S et al, Deciding on breast cancer risk reduction: The role of counselling in individual decision-making – A qualitative study. PEC-Journal

Science and methodology studies

Studies still seeking participants

AdvanceGender

The joint project AdvanceGender aims to develop a tool box with methods of gender-sensitive research to guide the design of research processes in population-based studies: the idea is to facilitate gender-sensitive research as a basis for empirically grounded health monitoring. The project AdvanceGender focuses on study participation and recruitment, data analysis and health monitoring.

The subproject AdvanceRecruitment analyses recruitment and study participation in population-based studies. It explores possible explanations for gender-specific differences in the participation in population-based studies, and possible implications of other categories such as income and education.

Sponsor:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Cooperation partners:

Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen
Department of Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute

Studies with completed data collection

Risk scores

The project addresses knowledge transfer processes in epidemiological knowledge generation and in the circulation of epidemiological findings in the form of so called risk scores (Kalender/Holmberg in print).

The objective is to develop an understanding of knowledge transfer processes in epidemiological knowledge generation using the example of a cohort study. An information platform is in preparation to illustrate the generation and dissemination of epidemiological knowledge.

The project uses a combination of method elements from social science and technology research (guideline-based interviews, participatory observations and document analyses). The website is being designed in collaboration with curators, graphic artists, web designers, IT experts and dramatists.

Sponsor:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Cooperation partners:

Institute of Sociology, Goethe University Frankfurt (Prof. Dr. Susanne Bauer, now: University of Oslo, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture)

Selected publications:

Kalender U, Holmberg C (in print): Zukünftiges Datendoppel. Digitale Körpervermessung in Kohortenstudien. In Heyen NB, Dickel S, Brüninghaus A (Hrsg.), Personal Health Science. Persönliches Gesundheitswissen zwischen Selbstsorge und Bürgerforschung, Wiesbaden: Springer VS 2018.

Curriculum vitae Prof. Dr. phil. Christine Holmberg, MA, MPH

Academic Positions

Starting in 2018 Professor for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical School Brandenburg Theodor Fontane
2010-2018 Senior Researcher, Institute of Public Health(formerly Berlin School of Public Health), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2010-2014 Senior Researcher, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2007 Researcher, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Department of Epidemiology, Potsdam-Rehbrücke
Since 2006 Principal Investigator, National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)/NRG Oncology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2002-2006 Postdoc Cancer Prevention Fellow, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Prevention, Bethesda, MD
2000-2001 Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Department of Social Medicine, Boston, MA

University Degrees

2015 'venia legendi' for Public Health and Epidemiology
2003 M.P.H., University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Chicago, IL
2002 Dr. phil., Humboldt University, Department of European Ethnology, Berlin
1997 M.A., Humboldt University, Department of Anthropology, and Department of Religious Studies, Berlin

Selected Awards / Honors

2015 Faculty, American Society of Clinical Oncology
2008 Selected for Young Leaders in Science, Schering-Foundation
2006 Breast Cancer Stamp Money Award
2005 Cancer Prevention Research Award, National Cancer Institute

Selected Third Party Funding (project title, role, ID, funder / period / amount without overhead)

NAVICARE – Patient-Oriented Health Services Research („Patientenorientierte Versorgungsforschung“)
Funded by Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) (2017-2020)
DIPEx Onkologie – Patient experiences to increase patient competence („Patientenerfahrungen zur Erhöhung der Patientenkompetenz“) (DIPExOnkologie)
Funded by Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG) ( 2012-2015)
DMP-1: A Study to Evaluate Different Decision-Making Approaches Used by Women Known to be at Increased Risk for Breast Cancer
Funded by National Cancer Institute, USA (2007-2014)

Publications

Books

Holmberg, C. (2005). Diagnose Brustkrebs. Eine ethnografische Studie über Krankheit und Krankheitserleben. Frankfurt/New York: Campus-Verlag.

Edited Books

Lucius-Hoene, G., Holmberg, C., Meyer, T., (Eds.) (2018). Illness Narratives in Practice: Potentials and Challenges of Using Narratives in Health-related Contexts. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Holmberg, C., Blume, S., Greenough P. (Eds.) (2017). The Politics of Vaccination: A Global History. Society for the Social History of Medicine Series. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Journal Articles (peer-review)

First and last author articles

Blödt, S., Kaiser, M., Adam, Y., Adami, S., Schultze, M., Müller-Nordhorn, J., & Holmberg, C. (2018). Understanding the role of health information in patients’ experiences: secondary analysis of qualitative narrative interviews with people diagnosed with cancer in Germany. BMJ Open, 8, e019576. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019576
Kendel, F., Otto, I., Engler, J., Schrader, M., & Holmberg, C. (2018). Leben mit einem lokal begrenzten Prostatakarzinom – Entscheidungsfindung und Krankheitsverarbeitung. Psychotherapie – Psychosomatik – Medizinische Psyhologie (EFirst). doi:10.1055/s-0043-122880
Holmberg, C., Bandos, H., Fagerlin, A., Bevers, T. B., Battaglia, T. A., Wickerham, D. L., & McCaskill-Stevens, W. J. (2017). NRG Oncology/National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Decision-Making Project-1 Results: Decision Making in Breast Cancer Risk Reduction. Cancer Prevention Research, 10(11), 625-634. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.capr-17-0076
Gunn, C., Bokhour, B., Parker, V. A., Blakeslee, S., Bandos, H., & Holmberg, C. (2017). Exploring Explanatory Models of Risk in Breast Cancer Risk Counseling Discussions: NSABP DMP-1. Cancer Nursing (Epub ahead of print). doi:10.1097/NCC.0000000000000517
Giesler, J. M., Keller, B., Repke, T., Leonhart, R., Weis, J., Rieckmann, N., Muckelbauer, R., Müller-Nordhorn, J., Lucius-Hoene, G., & Holmberg, C. (2017). Effect of a Website that Presents Patients’ Experiences on Self-Efficacy and Patient Competence of Colorectal Cancer Patients - Results of a web-based randomized-controlled trial (DIPExRCT). Journal for Medical Internet Research, 19(10), e334. doi:10.2196/jmir.7639
Engler, J., Guthlin, C., Dahlhaus, A., Kojima, E., Muller-Nordhorn, J., Weissbach, L., & Holmberg, C. (2017). Physician cooperation in outpatient cancer care. An amplified secondary analysis of qualitative interview data. European Journal of Cancer Care, 26(6), e12675. doi:10.1111/ecc.12675
Brandner, S., Stritter, W., Müller-Nordhorn, J., Fotopoulou, C., Sehouli, J., & Holmberg, C. (2017). Taking Responsibility: Ovarian Cancer Patients’ Perspectives on Delayed Healthcare Seeking. Anthropology in Action, 24(3), 41-48. doi:10.3167/aia.2017.240107
Blakeslee, S. B., McCaskill-Stevens, W., Parker, P. A., Gunn, C. M., Bandos, H., Bevers, T. B., Battaglia, T. A., Fagerlin, A., Müller-Nordhorn, J., & Holmberg, C. (2017). Deciding on breast cancer risk reduction: The role of counseling in individual decision-making – A qualitative study. Patient Education and Counseling, 100(11), 2346-2354. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2017.06.033
Holmberg, C., Muckelbauer, R., Sarganas, G., Braun, V., Heintze, C., Dini, L., & Muller-Nordhorn, J. (2016). [Primärprävention in der Allgemeinarztpraxis: Eine Befragung. Gesundheitswesen. doi:10.1055/s-0042-113601
Holmberg, C., Farahani, Z., & Witt, C. M. (2016). How Do Patients with Chronic Neck Pain Experience the Effects of Qigong and Exercise Therapy? A Qualitative Interview Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016, 8010891. doi:10.1155/2016/8010891
Engler, J., Adami, S., Adam, Y., Keller, B., Repke, T., Fugemann, H., Lucius-Hoene, G., Müller-Nordhorn, J., & Holmberg, C. (2016). Using others' experiences. Cancer patients' expectations and navigation of a website providing narratives on prostate, breast and colorectal cancer. Patient Education and Counseling, 99(8), 1325-1332. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2016.03.015
Blödt, S., Witt, C. M., & Holmberg, C. (2016). Women's reasons for participation in a clinical trial for menstrual pain: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 6(12), e012592. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012592
Holmberg, C., Whitehouse, K., Daly, M., & McCaskill-Stevens, W. (2015). Gaining control over breast cancer risk: Transforming vulnerability, uncertainty, and the future through clinical trial participation - a qualitative study. Sociology of Health and Illness, 37(8), 1373-1387. doi:10.1111/1467-9566.12307
Holmberg, C. (2015). Decision making in the context of breast cancer chemoprevention: patient perceptions and the meaning of risk. ASCO Educ Book, e59-64. doi:10.14694/EdBook_AM.2015.35.e59
Holmberg, C., Waters, E. A., Whitehouse, K., Daly, M., & McCaskill-Stevens, W. (2015). My Lived Experiences Are More Important Than Your Probabilities: The Role of Individualized Risk Estimates for Decision Making about Participation in the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR). Medical Decision Making, 35(8), 1010-1022. doi:10.1177/0272989X15594382
Holmberg, C., Sarganas, G., Mittring, N., Braun, V., Dini, L., Heintze, C., Rieckmann, N., Muckelbauer, R., & Müller-Nordhorn, J. (2014). Primary prevention in general practice - views of German general practitioners: a mixed-methods study. BMC Family Practice, 15, 103. doi:10.1186/1471-2296-15-103
Holmberg, C., Rappenecker, J., Karner, J. J., & Witt, C. M. (2014). The perspectives of older women with chronic neck pain on perceived effects of qigong and exercise therapy on aging: a qualitative interview study. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 9, 403-410. doi:10.2147/CIA.S54249
Holmberg, C., Karner, J. J., Rappenecker, J., & Witt, C. M. (2014). Clinical trial participants' experiences of completing questionnaires: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 4(3), e004363. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004363
Holmberg, C. (2014). No one sees the fear: becoming diseased before becoming ill--being diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 37(3), 175-183. doi:10.1097/NCC.0b013e318281395e
Brandner, S., Müller-Nordhorn, J., Stritter, W., Fotopoulou, C., Sehouli, J., & Holmberg, C. (2014). Symptomization and triggering processes: ovarian cancer patients' narratives on pre-diagnostic sensation experiences and the initiation of healthcare seeking. Social Science and Medicine, 119, 123-130. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.08.022
Beermann, S., Chakkalakal, D., Muckelbauer, R., Weissbach, L., & Holmberg, C. (2014). "We talk it over"--mixed-method study of interdisciplinary collaborations in private practice among urologists and oncologists in Germany. BMC Cancer, 14, 746. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-14-746
Holmberg, C., Bischof, C., & Bauer, S. (2013). Making Predictions: Computing Populations. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 38(3), 398-420. doi:10.1177/0162243912439610
Witt, C. M., & Holmberg, C. (2012). Changing academic medicine: strategies used by academic leaders of integrative medicine-a qualitative study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 652546. doi:10.1155/2012/652546
Holmberg, C., Brinkhaus, B., & Witt, C. (2012). Experts' opinions on terminology for complementary and integrative medicine - a qualitative study with leading experts. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12, 218. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-218
Holmberg, C., Harttig, U., Schulze, M. B., & Boeing, H. (2011). The potential of the Internet for health communication: the use of an interactive on-line tool for diabetes risk prediction. Patient Education and Counseling, 83(1), 106-112. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2010.04.021
Holmberg, C., & Parascandola, M. (2010). Individualised risk estimation and the nature of prevention. Health, Risk & Society, 12(5), 441-452. doi:10.1080/13698575.2010.508835
Holmberg, C., Daly, M., & McCaskill-Stevens, W. (2010). Risk Scores and Decision Making: The Anatomy of a Decision to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk. Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness, 2(4), 271-280. doi:10.1111/j.1752-9824.2010.01068.x
Holmberg, C. (2008). Vom Krank Sein zum Krank Fühlen – Krankheitserleben von Frauen mit Brustkrebs im Zeitalter der Früherkennung. Bricolage. Innsbrucker Zeitschrift für Europäische Ethnologie, 5.
Holmberg, C. (2003). Geschichte einer Krebserkrankung. Einblicke in die interpretative Medizinanthropologie. Berliner Blätter. Sonderband: Körperpolitik - Biopolitik.
Holmberg, C. (2001). Anders hätte ich das gar nicht überlebt. „Magische“ Objekte als Hilfen im Heilungsprozess. Zeitschrift für Volkskunde in Sachsen, 10(11).

Co-Authorship

Seanehia, J., Treibich, C., Holmberg, C., Muller-Nordhorn, J., Casin, V., Raude, J., & Mueller, J. E. (2017). Quantifying population preferences around vaccination against severe but rare diseases: A conjoint analysis among French university students, 2016. Vaccine, 35(20), 2676-2684. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.086
Engler, J., Kone, I., Holmberg, C., Baumann, W., Siebenhofer, A., & Guthlin, C. (2017). Oncologists' views on the importance of general practitioners for cancer patients: a qualitative interview study from Germany. Family Practice. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmx044
Martinez, K. A., Fagerlin, A., Witteman, H. O., Holmberg, C., & Hawley, S. T. (2016). What Matters to Women When Making Decisions About Breast Cancer Chemoprevention? Patient, 9(2), 149-159. doi:10.1007/s40271-015-0134-z
Gschwendter, K., Holmberg, C., Weis, J. (2016). Beweggründe von Krebspatienten für und gegen die Inanspruchnahme der Misteltherapie. Forsch Komplementmed, 23(4), 215-222. doi: 10.1159/000448745
Guethlin, C., Holmberg, C.., & Klein, G. (2016). Oncologists' experiences of discussing complementary and alternative treatment options with their cancer patients. A qualitative analysis. Supportive Care in Cancer, 24(9), 3857-3862. doi:10.1007/s00520-016-3205-3
Blodt, S., Mittring, N., Schutzler, L., Fischer, F., Holmberg, C., Horneber, M., Stapf, A., Witt, C. M. (2016). A consultation training program for physicians for communication about complementary medicine with breast cancer patients: a prospective, multi-center, cluster-randomized, mixed-method pilot study. BMC Cancer, 16(1), 843. doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2884-y
Witt, C. M., Perard, M., Berman, B., Berman, S., Birdsall, T. C., Defren, H., Kummel, S., Deng, G., Dobos, G., Drexler, A., Holmberg, C., Horneber, M., Jutte, R., Knutson, L., Kummer, C., Volpers, S., Schweiger, D. (2015). Using the framework of corporate culture in "mergers" to support the development of a cultural basis for integrative medicine - guidance for building an integrative medicine department or service. Patient Prefer Adherence, 9, 113-120. doi:10.2147/PPA.S66778
Stockigt, B. M., Besch, F., Jeserich, F., Holmberg, C., Witt, C. M., & Teut, M. (2015). Healing Relationships: A Qualitative Study of Healers and Their Clients in Germany. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015, 145154. doi:10.1155/2015/145154
Stockigt, B. M., Besch, F., Jeserich, F., Holmberg, C., Witt, C. M., & Teut, M. (2015). Biographical similarities between spiritual healers and their clients in Germany - a qualitative study. Anthropology & Medicine, 22(2), 177-190. doi:10.1080/13648470.2015.1050578
Stamer, M., Guthlin, C., Holmberg, C., Karbach, U., Patzelt, C., Meyer, T., & für die Arbeitsgruppe Qualitative Methoden des Deutschen Netzwerks Versorgungsforschung e, V. (2015). Qualitative Studien in der Versorgungsforschung – Diskussionspapier, Teil 3: Qualität qualitativer Studien. Gesundheitswesen, 77(12), 966-975. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1565235
Kamal, S., Holmberg, C., Russell, J., Bochenek, T., Tobiasz-Adamczyk, B., Fischer, C., & Tinnemann, P. (2015). Perceptions and Attitudes of Egyptian Health Professionals and Policy-Makers towards Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives and Other Promotional Activities. PloS One, 10(10), e0140457. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140457
Teut, M., Stockigt, B., Holmberg, C., Besch, F., Witt, C. M., & Jeserich, F. (2014). Perceived outcomes of spiritual healing and explanations--a qualitative study on the perspectives of German healers and their clients. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14, 240. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-240
Gschwendtner, K. M., Klein, G., Güthlin, C., Holmberg, C., Horneber, M., & Weis, J. (2014). Bedeutung komplementärmedizinischer Verfahren bei Patienten mit Prostatakarzinom. Der Urologe, 53(11), 1600-1609. doi:10.1007/s00120-014-3613-2
Müller-Nordhorn, J., Holmberg, C., Dokova, K. G., Milevska-Kostova, N., Chicin, G., Ulrichs, T., Rechel, B., Willich S. N., Powles, J., Tinnemann, P. (2012). Perceived challenges to public health in Central and Eastern Europe: a qualitative analysis. BMC Public Health, 12, 311. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-311
Karbach, U., Stamer, M., Holmberg, C., Guthlin, C., Patzelt, C., & Meyer, T. (2012). Qualitative Studien in der Versorgungsforschung – Diskussionspapier, Teil 2: Stand qualitativer Forschung in Deutschland – ein exemplarischer Überblick. Gesundheitswesen, 74(8-9), 516-525. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1323694
Meyer, T., Karbach, U., Holmberg, C., Guthlin, C., Patzelt, C., & Stamer, M. (2012). Qualitative Studien in der Versorgungsforschung - Diskussionspapier, Teil 1: Gegenstandsbestimmung. Gesundheitswesen, 74(8-9), 510-515. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1323693
Blödt, S., Holmberg, C., Muller-Nordhorn, J., & Rieckmann, N. (2012). Human Papillomavirus awareness, knowledge and vaccine acceptance: a survey among 18-25 year old male and female vocational school students in Berlin, Germany. European Journal of Public Health, 22(6), 808-813. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckr188
Muller-Riemenschneider, F., Holmberg, C., Rieckmann, N., Kliems, H., Rufer, V., Muller-Nordhorn, J., & Willich, S. N. (2010). Barriers to routine risk-score use for healthy primary care patients: survey and qualitative study. Archives of Internal Medicine, 170(8), 719-724. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2010.66
Schulze, M., Holmberg, C., Hoffmann, K., Boeing, H., Joost, H.-G. (2007). Entwicklung eines Kurzfragebogens zur Bestimmung des Diabetesrisikos auf Grundlage des Deutschen Diabetes-Risiko-Scores. Ernährungs-Umschau, December, 54:698-703.

Book chapters

Holmberg, C. (2018). What’s in a name? Anecdotes, Experience, and the Meaning of Stories. In in Lucius-Hoene, G., et al (Eds), Illness Narratives in Practice: Potentials and Challenges of Using Narratives in Health-related Contexts. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Jeserich, F., Besch. F., Holmberg, C., Stöckigt, B., & Teut, M. (2015). Radikale Körper-Empathie spiritueller Heiler und somatische Gegenübertragungen im Heilritual: Ein Beispiel für das methodologische Spiel mit psychoanalytischen Konzepten in der Religionswissenschaft. In G. Klinkhammer & E. Tolksdorf (Eds.), Somatisierung des Religiösen: Empirische Studien zum rezenten religiösen Heilungs- und Therapiemarkt (pp. 339-378). Bremen: Universität Bremen. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:gbv:46-00104231-10.
Mittring, N., Teut, M., Holmberg, C., & Witt, C. (2010). Konzeptuelle Unterschiede im Verständnis von Kinderkrankheiten zwischen konventionellen, homöopathischen und anthroposophischen Kinder- und Hausärzten. In H. Albrecht & M. Frühwald (Eds.), Jahrbuch 17 (pp. 125-142). Essen: KVC-Verlag.
Holmberg, C. (2010). Klinisches Emplotment – Erfolgreiche Arzt-Patienten-Beziehungen?!. In C. Witt (Ed.), Der gute Arzt aus interdisziplinärer Sicht. Ergebnisse eines Expertentreffens (pp. 141-157). Essen: KVC Verlag.
Holmberg, C. (2007). Researching Breast Cancer: Understanding Sameness and Otherness. In C. Lammer, K. Sawchuck, C. Pichler. (Eds.), Verkörperungen – Embodiment (pp. 185-199). Wien: Löcker-Verlag.
Holmberg, C. (2005). Die Interdependenz von Statistik und Krankheitserfahrung als Forschungsfeld der Europäischen Ethnologie. In B. Binder, S. Göttsch, W. Kaschuba, K.Vanja (Eds.), Ort. Arbeit. Körper. Ethnografie Europäischer Modernen (pp. 413-420). Münster: Waxmann-Verlag.
Holmberg, C. (2000). Da haben wir nur an das Nächstliegende gedacht. Metzingen in der Nachkriegszeit. In R. Bidlingmaier (Ed.), Metzingen in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus. Reutlingen: Stadt Metzingen.
Holmberg, C., S. Assfalg (1995). Die Schlacht von Köpenick. Zur Geschichte einer Geschichte. In L.-U.-I. f. E. Kulturwissenschaft (Ed.), Spiegelbilder. Was Ost- und Westdeutsche übereinander erzählen. Tübingen: Tübinger Vereinigung für Volkskunde e.V.

Other publications

Holmberg C. (2014). Zeitschriftenschau. G+G Wissenschaft, 14(2).
Holmberg, C. (2006, February). Review to Green, J., Thorogood, N., Qualitative Methods for Health Research, 2004. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung, 7(2). Available from: http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/101/211.
Holmberg, C. (2005, April). Rezension zu Samerski, S., Die verrechnete Hoffnung. Von der selbstbestimmten Entscheidung durch genetische Beratung, Münster 2002. H-Soz-u-Kult, 01.04.2005. Available from: http://www.hsozkult.de/publicationreview/id/rezbuecher-4397.
Holmberg, C. (2004, January). Rezension zu Kalitzkus, V. Leben durch den Tod. Die zwei Seiten der Organtransplantation. Eine medizinethnologische Studie, Frankfurt am Main 2003. H-Soz-u-Kult. Available from: http://www.hsozkult.de/publicationreview/id/rezbuecher-3178.

Website development for research presentation for a general public

2015: www.krankheitserfahrungen.de (wissenschaftliche Aufbereitung von Erfahrungen mit Brustkrebs, Darmkrebs, und Prostatakrebs), Kollaboration mit DIPEx Germany
2005: www.understandingrisk.cancer.gov (Webseite auf dem epidemiologisches Risiko erklärt wurde und Risiko Score Rechner eingebaut waren. Webseite wurde deaktiviert), National Cancer