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Background: Many studies have shown that sociodemographic variables significantly predict the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), although these predictions were not particularly strong. A multitude of predictors of the use or approval of CAM have been investigated in the field of personal values and worldviews, but the effects were small or doubtful due to non-representative samples. More recent psychological research has linked positive attitudes towards CAM with intuitive thinking, paranormal beliefs, ontological confusions and magical health beliefs, suggesting a common thinking style behind all these variables. The aim of this study is to identify the most important predictors of the use and approval of CAM. Methods: We performed a canonical correlation analysis on all 3480 records from the 2012 German General Social Survey (ALLBUS) with the lifetime use and opinion of CAM as the dependent variables. Results: Approval of paranormal practices such as fortune-telling, dowsing or spiritualism explained 32% of the variance in the dependent canonical variate "approval of CAM", while sociodemographic variables explained only 2%. Experience with paranormal practices explained 17% of the variance in the dependent canonical variate "experience with CAM", and sociodemographic variables explained 10% of the variance. Traditional religiosity, attitudes towards science and post-materialist values showed no relevant correlations with the dependent canonical variates. Conclusions: Paranormal beliefs and related measures are the most important known predictors of the use and approval of CAM. Experience with paranormal practices not only indicates paranormal beliefs but also explains experience with CAM that cannot be explained by approval of CAM. Female gender and higher socioeconomic status predict experience with CAM without predicting approval of CAM, but their influence should not be overstated.

BACKGROUND In 1920, the physician Alfred Grotjahn was appointed as first Chair for Social Hygiene in Germany at the University of Berlin. During reign of national socialism, the Institute for Social Hygiene was closed and from 1933 and 1945 transformed into an Institute for Racial Hygiene. During that period, many German scientists including social medicine co-workers of the Berlin Charité emigrated due to political, religious or racial prosecution. METHODS The basis for this biographical presentation of co-workers of Grotjahn, who emigrated to the USA, is based on research conducted at German and American sources such as the Archive of Humboldt University of Berlin, Federal Archive in Koblenz, National Institutes of Health in Washington, NARA Archive in Washington, and Alan-Mason-Chesney Medical Archives in Baltimore. RESULTS The Jewish scientists Franz Goldmann, Miron Kantorowicz, Alfred Korach and Georg Wollf, all former co-workers of Alfred Grotjahn, were forced to leave the country in the 30s and emigrated to the USA. They were active in different areas of public health and pursued relatively successful careers. DISCUSSION The societal system and mentality of the USA have obviously profited from the professional background and experience arising from the emigration of former social medicine experts of the Charité. ; Hintergrund: Der Arzt Alfred Grotjahn wurde 1920 an der Universität Berlin auf den ersten Lehrstuhl für Sozialhygiene in Deutschland berufen. In der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus wurde das Institut für Sozialhygiene geschlossen bzw. von 1933 bis 1945 in ein Institut für Rassenhygiene umgewandelt. In dieser Zeit emigrierten viele deutsche Wissenschaftler aufgrund politischer, religiöser oder rassischer Verfolgung, so auch Sozialmediziner der Berliner Charité. Methodik: Basis dieser biographischen Darstellung von Schülern Grotjahns, die in die USA emigrierten, sind Nachforschungen in deutschen sowie amerikanischen Quellen, u.a. Archiv der Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Bundesarchiv in Koblenz, ...

Salomon Neumann (1819-1908) is one of the outstanding representatives of 19th century social medicine. As a medical reformer, statistician and city councilor, he made a significant contribution to improving social and hygienic conditions in Berlin. His most famous work was published in 1847 under the title "Die oeffentliche Gesundheitspflege und das Eigenthum" [Public Health and Property]. From 1859 to 1905, Neumann was active in the Berlin City Council for the improvement of the living conditions of the population. He was involved in the construction of municipal hospitals, supported the modernisation of sewage disposal, organised the Berlin censuses of 1861 and 1864 and was active in the field of health and social statistics. Not only was Neumann exposed to anti-Semitic reprisals during his lifetime, a foundation he founded to promote the science of Judaism was dissolved by the National Socialists in 1940. On the occasion of his 200th birthday, this article commemorates the life and work of the democratically minded and socially committed doctor and health politician. Salomon Neumann has rendered great services to social medicine in Germany. ; Salomon Neumann (1819-1908) zählt zu den herausragenden Vertretern der Sozialmedizin des 19. Jahrhunderts. Als Medizinalreformer, Statistiker und Stadtverordneter trug er maßgeblich zur Verbesserung der sozialen und hygienischen Verhältnisse in Berlin bei. Anlässlich seines 200. Geburtstags erinnert der Beitrag an das Leben und Wirken des demokratisch gesinnten und sozial engagierten Arztes und Gesundheitspolitikers.

Purpose – Many health systems face challenges such as rising costs and lacking quality, both of which can be addressed by improving the integration of different health care sectors and professions. The purpose of this viewpoint is to present the German health care Innovation Fund (IF) initiated by the Federal Government to support the development and diffusion of integrated health care. Design/methodology/approach – This article describes the design and rationale of the IF in detail and provides first insights into its limitations, acceptance and implementation by relevant stakeholders. Findings – In its first period, the IF offered V 1.2 billion as start-up funding for model implementation and evaluation over a period of four years (2016–2019). This period was recently extended to a second round until 2024, offering V 200 million a year as from 2020. The IF is triggering the support of relevant insurers for the development of new integrated care models. In addition, strict evaluation requirements have led to a large number of health service research projects which assess structural and process improvements and thus enable evidence-based policy decisions. Originality/value – This article is the first of its kind to present the German IF to the international readership. The IF is a political initiative through which to foster innovations and promote integrated health care.