[Reducing Health Inequalities: Development of a Stepwise Procedure from Data to Political Interventions].

Low socioeconomic status (assessed by indicators such as educational level or income) is often associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This has been shown in many empirical studies, also in Germany. There are numerous calls for political interventions aimed at reducing these health inequalities, in scientific discussions as well as in the public.

Impact of regional socioeconomic variation on coordination and cost of ambulatory care: investigation of claims data from Bavaria, Germany.

Objectives: A considerable proportion of regional variation in healthcare use and health expenditures is to date still unexplained. The aim was to investigate regional differences in the gatekeeping role of general practitioners and to identify relevant explanatory variables at patient and district level in Bavaria, Germany.

Design: Retrospective routine data analysis using claims data held by the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.

[Social Differences in Physical Activity among Adolescents in Germany: Analyses Based on Information Concerning the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)].

Energy consumption, i. e., the metabolic equivalent of task (MET), provides a precise assessment of physical activity (PA).

German cooperation-network 'equity in health'-health promotion in settings.

In 2003, the German Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) initiated the national Cooperation-Network (CN) 'Equity in Health'. The CN is constantly increasing in size and scope, supporting setting approaches aimed at reducing health inequalities. A detailed description of the CN has not yet been available in English.

Costs of coordinated versus uncoordinated care in Germany: results of a routine data analysis in Bavaria.

Objectives: The efficiency of a gatekeeping system for a health system, as in Germany, remains unclear particularly as access to specialist ambulatory care is not restricted. The aim was to compare the costs of coordinated versus uncoordinated patients (UP) in ambulatory care; with additional subgroup analysis of patients with mental disorders.

Design: Retrospective routine data analysis of patients with statutory health insurance, using claims data held by the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.