Davis P B
N Z Med J. 1985 Sep 25;98(787):789-92.
Recent epidemiological research indicates that a strong inverse relationship exists between social class and mortality for almost every cause of death among employed males in the age group 15-64. On such epidemiological evidence higher levels of health service use among lower socio-economic strata might be expected. Data from a survey of office encounters in general practices in the Hamilton health district reveal social class differences in the expected direction--especially for severe conditions--but the differentials recorded are not substantial. It is suggested that this shortfall in predicted class differentials in office encounters is explained by social class variations in patterns of symptom recognition and help-seeking and in access to care. Such differences mean that lower class men receive less medical attention than their experience of ill-health might warrant.
近期的流行病学研究表明，在15至64岁的在职男性中，几乎每种死因的社会阶层与死亡率之间都存在着强烈的负相关关系。基于这样的流行病学证据，较低社会经济阶层的人群对医疗服务的使用水平可能会更高。汉密尔顿健康区全科医疗办公室就诊调查的数据显示，社会阶层差异符合预期方向——尤其是对于严重疾病——但记录的差异并不显著。有人认为，办公室就诊中预测的阶层差异不足可以通过症状识别和寻求帮助模式以及获得医疗服务的社会阶层差异来解释。这些差异意味着，下层男性获得的医疗关注比他们的健康状况所应得的要少。
