Participation in cancer screening in Germany: results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1)

A growing number of people in Germany participate in the cancer screening services offered by statutory health insurance. Using data from the first wave of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1), current levels of participation in cancer screening services were determi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz, 2013-05, Vol.56 (5-6), p.858-867
Main Authors: Starker, A, Saß, A-C
Format: Article
Language:ger
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Early Detection of Cancer - utilization
Female
Germany - epidemiology
Health Status
Health Surveys - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Interviews as Topic - methods
Male
Mass Screening - utilization
Middle Aged
Neoplasms - diagnosis
Neoplasms - epidemiology
Neoplasms - prevention & control
Patient Participation - statistics & numerical data
Prevalence
Risk Assessment
Sex Distribution
Social Class
Young Adult
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Summary:A growing number of people in Germany participate in the cancer screening services offered by statutory health insurance. Using data from the first wave of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1), current levels of participation in cancer screening services were determined. DEGS1 (2008-2011) permits representative cross-sectional analyses to be performed. In DEGS1, persons who were entitled to different cancer screening services were interviewed on their awareness, participation and regular utilisation of cancer screening for different types of cancer. Overall, 67.2% of women and 40.0% of men participate regularly. Participation rates fluctuate to a great extent for individual types of cancer screening. Women participate in cancer screening more frequently than men do. For women, a better socioeconomic status was associated with higher participation rates. Participation rates improve with increasing age, meaning that the difference in participation rates between women and men becomes smaller. The current analyses present information on specifically targeted population groups to promote informed decision-making about cancer screening, so that participation rates can be improved further. The analyses thus provide an important basis for health policy measures. An English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink as supplemental.
ISSN:1437-1588
DOI:10.1007/s00103-012-1655-4