Читать книгу The Science of Health Disparities Research - Группа авторов - Страница 62

This chapter focused on summarizing the state of the literature, measurement issues, and research opportunities related to race, SES, and other social determinants. The chapter references two conceptual frameworks in order to provide an understanding of the factors involved in the relationships between race/ethnicity, SES behavioral mediators/moderators, and health outcomes. The use of widely accepted measures, such as those used by the US Census Bureau, is critical to minority health and health disparities research because they make it possible to compare findings across studies and over time.

The differences between race and ethnicity are distinct, although they can be difficult to distinguish if one is not intimately familiar with them. As the United States becomes more diverse, future health research will need to disaggregate the larger racial/ethnic categories to understand the causes of known differences in health status, behaviors, and outcomes between subgroups. Among the key measures of health are mortality, morbidity, and life expectancy, which can be used to gauge progress in improving minority health and in reducing health disparities.

One of the most studied social determinants, SES, is a strong predictor of health and can be measured on an individual or community/neighborhood level. Other social determinants, including acculturation, social environment, and physical environment, can also influence health independent of SES. Assessing such factors, in addition to SES, can elucidate relationships that have previously gone unobserved. The examples above represent some of the leading research related to race, ethnicity, and social determinants of health.

In addition to disaggregating racial/ethnic groups, the opportunity to link social determinants of health to biological mechanisms will advance research addressing minority health and health disparities. Future research should also consider integrating race/ethnicity, SES, and other social determinants into the healthcare setting, as well as into the emerging areas of precision medicine, clinical trials, sexual and gender minority research, and workforce diversity.