[Utilization of medical rehabilitation prior to disability retirement : Comparison of German and non-German nationals with a special focus on ethnic German resettlers].

BACKGROUND: So far little is known about the utilization of medical rehabilitation among non-German nationals and ethnic German resettlers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the utilization of medical rehabilitation in non-German nationals and ethnic German resettlers prior to disability retirement.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Routine data from the German statutory pension insurance scheme were used. Information on 17,369 individuals who retired due to disability in 2015 was available. Ethnic German resettlers were defined by means of information stemming from a prior occupation in the country of origin. The outcome of interest was the utilization of medical rehabilitation in the past 5 years prior to the disability pension. Multilevel logistic regression was used to control the influence of demographic and socioeconomic factors.

RESULTS: Compared to Germans without resettler status, non-German nationals had a lower chance of utilizing medical rehabilitation. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) were 0.79 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.67-0.92) for Turkish nationals and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.45-0.71) for nationals from EU countries. Ethnic German resettlers had a higher chance of utilizing medical rehabilitation (adjusted OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.20-1.64).

CONCLUSION: Non-German nationals utilized medical rehabilitation prior to disability retirement less frequently than German nationals. This is presumably because of the barriers non-Germans experience in utilization, resulting from poor information and problems emerging in the transition from general practitioner to rehabilitative care. Ethnic German resettlers do not seem to be disadvantaged in terms of access to rehabilitation.