title: [The use of medical services and the utilization rate in screening programs in relation to social class: results of a representative survey in Bavaria].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article aims to analyse utilisation of medical services and screening programmes in relation to social class.
  
  
  METHODS
  2051 adults in Bavaria were interviewed using computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) in 1999/2000. Social class was established from the income-adjusted Winkler social category index. Data were standardised by age and sex. If social class differences were found, separate analyses for education and income effects were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher education was found to be associated with visits to specialist and vaccinations. The purchase of over-the-counter medication was related to higher education and family income. Frequency of HIV-tests was higher in higher social classes but not related to higher education or better financial situation. Utilisation rates for screening programmes for various types of cancer were similar in all social classes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that social class differences in health behaviour in Bavaria prevail. Positive health behaviour is often associated with higher education. Compared to earlier findings social class effects on the utilisation of cancer screening appears less pronounced. Preventive measures seem to have reached all social classes to a similar degree.
authors.affiliation: Bayerischer Forschungsverbund Public Health-Offentliche Gesundheit, München. weit@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Irmgard
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Röckl-Wiedmann
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Richela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laubereau
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weitkunat
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uberla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs