The measurement of social class in epidemiology: a systematic review.

Abstract

Review objective: to identify and describe the operational models that address the measuring of social class currently used in epidemiology, and to identify the correlation between social class and health outcomes related to primary care in epidemiological studies Criteria for considering studies for this review: Types of participants/problem: This review will not focus on any one particular set of participants, but will focus studies that have described a measurement of social class in epidemiology and studies that have identified the correlation between social class and health outcomes related to primary care. Types of intervention/phenomenon of interest: The phenomenon of interest is the models used to measure the concepts of social class in epidemiology. The other phenomenon of interest is the correlation between social class and health outcomes related to primary care. Types of outcome measures/anticipated outcomes: The anticipated outcome is the description of models currently used in epidemiology and to discuss how they are used to identify social class. The second outcome of interest to this review is to describe the correlation between social class and health outcomes related to primary care.