[Attendance at back care programmes: a representative study of the working population in Germany].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate nationwide participation rates in back care programmes of the German working population.


METHODS
From a national health survey conducted in Germany between October 1997 to March 1999 (n = 3313 employees aged 18 to 69), we investigated how participation in back care programmes correlates with sociodemographic characteristics, occupation, lifestyle and health factors.


RESULTS
Approximately one out of six (17.5%) employee has ever attended a back care class. 7.2% took part in this kind of health promotion programme during the past year. After adjusting for various symptom prevalences, the survey revealed that males, full-time employees, singles and people with an unfavourable lifestyle were less likely to attend such programmes.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper is the first to provide representative data on uptake of back care classes and investigate the correlates of participation in back care programs in Germany. The study indicates that people with the highest risk for low back pain are the least likely to take back care classes.
Schneider
Sven
S
Stiftung Orthopädische Universitätsklinik, Sektion "Schmerztherapie", Universität Heidelberg, Germany. sven.schneider@ok.uni-heidelberg.de
Hauf
Christian
C
Schiltenwolf
Marcus
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors