Social Determinants of Health in Otolaryngology: A Call to Action (AMW)
2021 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience
Healthcare disparities are overwhelmingly driven by differences in social determinants of health (SDOH) – the social, economic, and physical conditions in which individuals are born, live, work, and age (e.g., income, education, race/ethnicity, social support, social norms). Disparities in access to care, treatment, and outcomes by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geography because of SDOH are pervasive in otolaryngology. In this call to action, we highlight the need to move beyond studies describing the existence of disparities and advance to rigorous, high-quality research that begins to address SDOH and improve equity in care and outcomes. We also discuss the role of education in enhancing care delivery by otolaryngologists. Although research addressing SDOH and disparities within otolaryngology remains in its infancy, there are nevertheless already practical steps that individual otolaryngology providers should take to understand and address SDOH within their clinical practice. Panel Aims: (1) Identify knowledge gaps about SDOH and what is known about the relationship of SDOH to disparities within otolaryngology; (2) Engage academy members in progress toward mitigating SDOH and disparities within otolaryngology; and (3) Catalyze change through education and clinical approaches address the impact of SDOH into our clinical practice.
Credits
CME:1.0, MOC:1.0