title: Education and self-reported health care seeking behaviour in European welfare regimes: results from the European Social Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates educational inequalities in the perception of need for seeking health care in 24 European countries belonging to five different welfare regimes (Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon, Bismarckian, Eastern and Southern).
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the European Social Survey Round 2 (N = 38,122), associations between years of education and intended doctor consultation in case of four hypothetical symptoms (backache, sore throat, sleeping problems and headache) are analysed by multiple logistic regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  People with less years of education tend to be more likely to consult a doctor compared to people with more education years after adjustment for age and gender. Associations are significant in all welfare regimes, except for the Southern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educational inequalities in the perception of need for seeking health care can be found in different welfare regimes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kirstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grosse Frie
authors.forename: Terje Andreas
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Eikemo
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: von dem Knesebeck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012946:Social Welfare; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult