The Social Determinants of Health Index
1Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL).
Background:
Health disparities are avoidable differences that disproportionately impact certain groups. Health equity demands attention to social determinants of health (SDOH), particularly for people with disabilities who often have poorer outcomes and face more health inequities than nondisabled peers.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to develop a Social Determinants of Health Index for people with disabilities that utilizes personal outcomes. The Index is aimed at helping disability service providers examine the SDOH of those they support, to arm them with more information to provide targeted services and supports.
Method:
We ran an exploratory factor analysis of Personal Outcome Measures interviews with 1,078 people with disabilities from 2017 to compute composite scores for the factors underlying the model.
Results:
Findings revealed the Social Determinants of Health Index had 3 underlying factors: choice and engagement; person-centeredness; and health and safety. Choice and engagement are often inextricably linked as choice, self-determination, and empowerment play a key role in the social inclusion of people with disabilities. Services being person-centered are not only a right and requirement of home- and community-based services, but rights should also be person-centered-each person decides which rights are the most important to them. Finally, the third factor recognizes health and safety as foundational parts of health outcomes.
Conclusions:
The creation of the Social Determinants of Health Index for people with disabilities, which utilizes person-centered outcomes, ultimately aims to reduce health disparities. Attention to SDOH can promote good health for all. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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