TY - JOUR
T1 - Participation in preventive health check-ups among 19,351 women in Germany
AU - Schülein, Stefanie
AU - Taylor, Katherine J.
AU - Schriefer, Dirk
AU - Blettner, Maria
AU - Klug, Stefanie J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The Authors
PY - 2017/6/1
Y1 - 2017/6/1
N2 - In Germany, a biennial preventive health check-up has been available for individuals aged 35 and older since 1989. The check-up includes identification of cardiovascular disease risk factors and examinations for diabetes mellitus type 2 and kidney disease. Participation in preventive health check-ups among 19,351 women aged 35 to 74 in Germany in 2004 was investigated. Logistic regression was performed to examine associations between participation and age, marital status, education, socio-economic status (SES) and region of residence. In total, 53.4% of women attended at least every two years, 23.4% attended irregularly and 23.2% never attended. In adjusted models, single, divorced, separated or widowed women were less likely to have a preventive health check-up at least every two years compared to married women (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.57–0.71), while women in eastern Germany were less likely to participate (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.75–0.86) than women in western Germany. Education showed no association with having a preventive health check-up at least every two years; however, women with low SES were less likely to participate compared to those with high SES (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74–0.92). About half of eligible women reported participating in health check-ups at least every two years, with participation varying according to socio-demographic characteristics. Women who are less likely to participate may benefit from receiving invitation letters within the framework of an organised programme. The benefits of general health checks, however, need to be evaluated.
AB - In Germany, a biennial preventive health check-up has been available for individuals aged 35 and older since 1989. The check-up includes identification of cardiovascular disease risk factors and examinations for diabetes mellitus type 2 and kidney disease. Participation in preventive health check-ups among 19,351 women aged 35 to 74 in Germany in 2004 was investigated. Logistic regression was performed to examine associations between participation and age, marital status, education, socio-economic status (SES) and region of residence. In total, 53.4% of women attended at least every two years, 23.4% attended irregularly and 23.2% never attended. In adjusted models, single, divorced, separated or widowed women were less likely to have a preventive health check-up at least every two years compared to married women (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.57–0.71), while women in eastern Germany were less likely to participate (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.75–0.86) than women in western Germany. Education showed no association with having a preventive health check-up at least every two years; however, women with low SES were less likely to participate compared to those with high SES (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74–0.92). About half of eligible women reported participating in health check-ups at least every two years, with participation varying according to socio-demographic characteristics. Women who are less likely to participate may benefit from receiving invitation letters within the framework of an organised programme. The benefits of general health checks, however, need to be evaluated.
KW - Education
KW - Germany
KW - Preventive health check-up
KW - Socio-economic status
KW - Survey
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85012154591&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.01.011
DO - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.01.011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85012154591
SN - 2211-3355
VL - 6
SP - 23
EP - 26
JO - Preventive Medicine Reports
JF - Preventive Medicine Reports
ER -