Socioeconomic inequalities in health: how big is the problem and what can be done?

Socioeconomic factors shape the working day for many doctors in New Zealand. The occurrence and severity of most common conditions confronting doctors in day-to-day practice are linked to the socioeconomic conditions in which patients live and work. Poorer people are likely to have worse health than wealthier people; but it is also becoming clearer that it is not just the absolute level of poverty that affects people's health, but also the distribution of material resources in society. This article highlights important aspects of our current knowledge concerning the effects of socioeconomic factors on health, and makes practical suggestions for day-to-day practice. An essential first step is to identify and characterise the socioeconomic characteristics of patients. Information routinely collected by many general practitioners can be used to characterise the socioeconomic circumstances of individual patients and the practice population as a whole. Doctors can then take action at three levels to mitigate the risks associated with these socioeconomic factors: at a broad social level; at a community and practice level; and at an individual level.