Because of the diversity of institutions funding rehabilitative measures and the lack of a shared data base, little is known so far about how many people in all and what kind of people make use of medical rehabilitation. Starting out from this dilemma, the rehabilitant population of 2004 was described in greater detail with the help of the population-representative and not institution-oriented German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and by means of health variables (subjective health, severe disability, periods of disability, health care utilisation) as well as of socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, social status, region). In addition, the influence of these variables on the chances of taking part in rehabilitation was evaluated. In 2004, 4% of the respondents took part in rehabilitative measures, with women having a lower chance of participating as men have. A bivariate distinct age gradient leveled under multifactorial analysis. The strongest predictors, in contrast, were found to be subjective health, amount of visits to doctors' offices as well as hospitalizations. Contrary to our expectations, an influence of the social stratum could not be found. The analysis in addition shows a higher utilization of rehabilitative procedures in eastern Germany.
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.