Call to Action: Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Pharmacy Practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 106002802110408
Author(s):  
Julie Kalabalik-Hoganson ◽  
Ayse Elif Ozdener-Poyraz ◽  
Denise Rizzolo

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are conditions in which individuals are born, live, work, learn, play, and age that affect health, risks, functioning, and outcomes. SDOH are recognized barriers to care, risk factors for certain diseases, and associated with poorer health outcomes. Screening for SDOH in physician practices and hospitals is reportedly low. The accessibility of pharmacists and established relationships with patients make pharmacy settings ideal for identifying and mitigating social needs. An evaluation of the impact of SDOH on health outcomes and opportunities for pharmacists to embed screening into practice is warranted.

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Harrington ◽  
Robert M. Califf ◽  
Appathurai Balamurugan ◽  
Nancy Brown ◽  
Regina M. Benjamin ◽  
...  

Understanding and addressing the unique health needs of people residing in rural America is critical to the American Heart Association’s pursuit of a world with longer, healthier lives. Improving the health of rural populations is consistent with the American Heart Association’s commitment to health equity and its focus on social determinants of health to reduce and ideally to eliminate health disparities. This presidential advisory serves as a call to action for the American Heart Association and other stakeholders to make rural populations a priority in programming, research, and policy. This advisory first summarizes existing data on rural populations, communities, and health outcomes; explores 3 major groups of factors underlying urban-rural disparities in health outcomes, including individual factors, social determinants of health, and health delivery system factors; and then proposes a set of solutions spanning health system innovation, policy, and research aimed at improving rural health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 918-919
Author(s):  
Anna-Rae Montano ◽  
Augustus Ge ◽  
Christopher Halladay ◽  
Samuel Edwards ◽  
James Rudolph ◽  
...  

Abstract The Veterans Administration (VA) Home-based Primary Care (HBPC) program provides comprehensive primary care to older Veterans with multiple chronic conditions who may be at risk of adverse health outcomes due to their social determinants of health. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) can be used as a surrogate measure of a Veteran’s social needs. The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of neighborhood disadvantage, as measured by ADI, on HBPC enrollment for a sample of older Veterans. We estimated a linear multivariate model in which the exposure was ADI and the outcome was enrollment in HBPC. Controls included clinical and demographic characteristics. In a final sample of 12,005,453 observations (total Veteran months) on 353,485 individual Veterans, 18.4% lived in high-deprivation neighborhoods (ADI greater than or equal to 80). Mean monthly probability of new HBPC enrollment was 0.0061. Controlling for clinical characteristics, housing instability, and distance from the medical center, Veterans residing in high-deprivation neighborhoods were 1.4% to 14.8% less likely to enroll in HBPC, though the association was not statistically significant. The VA HBPC program provides beneficial comprehensive, primary care services to Veterans at risk of poor health outcomes. However, a Veteran’s social determinants of health could prevent enrollment. More research is needed to determine the relationship between Veterans’ social needs and HBPC enrollment.


Author(s):  
Quyen Phan ◽  
Naomi Johnson ◽  
JoAnna Hillman ◽  
Daniel Geller ◽  
Laura P. Kimble ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveFor nursing students, competency in population health management involves acquiring knowledge and forming attitudes about the impact of the social determinants of health (SDoH) on health equity. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes about the SDoH and health equity following a focused simulation activity.MethodBaccalaureate nursing students (N=182) participated in a ninety-minute health equity simulation and a post-simulation debrief. Forty-four students (23%) completed a 19-item post-simulation survey.ResultsSixty-four percent of participants reported positive attitude change in working with marginalized populations caused by the SDoH, and 89% reported being knowledgeable about the role of the registered nurse in addressing health equity. Seventy-five percent reported enhanced knowledge of the SDoH through the health equity simulation.ConclusionUsing health equity simulation may be effective in enhancing students’ knowledge, as well as their attitudes in caring for the health of marginalized populations by addressing the SDoH.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Menéndez Álvarez ◽  
Emiliano Diez Villoria ◽  
Estíbaliz Jimenez Arberas ◽  
Ana María Castaño Pérez ◽  
Antonio León García Izquierdo

Importance: For the first time in recent history, people worldwide have faced severe restrictions in occupations because of the measures adopted by governments to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. Objective: To determine the limitations on participation of occupational therapists and occupational therapy students during “lockdown” and their impact on social determinants of health. Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted via an online survey. Participants: A total of 488 occupational therapists and occupational therapy students in North America, South America, and Europe. Outcomes and Measures: A questionnaire consisting of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and items developed to assess the impact of lockdown on daily life was emailed to occupational therapy professional associations, organizations, and universities between April and June 2020. It was available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and met all the parameters listed in the Declaration of Helsinki. Results: The roles and routines of people across the developed world have been affected by lockdown measures. The study shows marked differences between participants in the domains of getting along and life activities, as well as influence on the environment. Moreover, South American participants experienced these difficulties to a greater extent than European participants. Conclusions and Relevance: This study quantifies the limitations in the participation of occupational therapists and occupational therapy students and the relationship of occupation to social determinants of health. What This Article Adds: The results of this research corroborate the relationship between health and occupation and highlight elements, such as the environment and context, that are important in occupational therapy. Therapists’ ability to analyze occupation in relation to contextual and cultural factors will benefit clients.


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