Time and cost associated with utilization of services at mobile health clinics among pregnant women.

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is provided for free in Tanzania in all public health facilities. Yet surveys suggested that long distances to the facilities limit women from accessing these services. Mobile health clinics (MHC) were introduced to address this problem; however, little is known about the client cost and time associated with utilizing ANC at MHC and whether these costs deter women from using the provided services.

Volume-outcome relationship and minimum volume regulations in the German hospital sector - evidence from nationwide administrative hospital data for the years 2005-2007.

Background: This paper analyses the volume-outcome relationship and the effects of minimum volume regulations in the German hospital sector.

Methods: We use a full sample of administrative data from the unselected, complete German hospital population for the years 2005 to 2007. We apply regression methods to analyze the association between volume and hospital quality.

[Extent of rationing and overprovision in stationary care: results of a nationwide survey of German hospitals].

Background: Faced with economic pressure and with the insufficient funding of investments many hospitals are in deficit. However, there is little evidence whether these circumstances translate into rationing of services and which factors might be relevant in this context. Concerning the development of the number of patients it is also unclear, whether economic incentives lead to an overprovision of medical services.

Assessment of a new questionnaire for self-reported sun sensitivity in an occupational skin cancer screening program.

Background: Sun sensitivity of the skin is a risk factor for the development of cutaneous melanoma and other skin cancers. Epidemiological studies on causal factors for the development of melanoma must control for sun sensitivity as a confounder. A standardized instrument for measuring sun sensitivity has not been established yet.