Addressing Racism in Preventive Services: Methods Report to Support the US Preventive Services Task Force.

Area of Science:

• Public Health Policy
• Health Equity Research
• Clinical Preventive Services

Background:

• The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) acknowledged systemic racism and committed to addressing health equity in clinical preventive services in January 2021.
• Racism is a complex social construct with profound biological consequences, impacting health through multiple pathways and social determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and conceptualize racism and health inequity.
• To assess how racism and health inequities are currently addressed within preventive health services.

Main Methods:

• An audit of literature, USPSTF reports, systematic reviews on interventions, and professional organizations was conducted.
• The audit focused on identifying frameworks, policies, and operational guidance related to addressing racism and health equity.

Main Results:

• USPSTF reports have addressed racial disparities but not explicitly racism.
• Systematic reviews support interventions for disparities, but not always explicitly for racism or broader implementation strategies.
• Many organizations have made commitments to address racism, but substantive operational guidance is limited and in early stages.

Conclusions:

• This methods report summarizes key issues surrounding racism and health inequity.
• It outlines the current status of addressing these critical issues in preventive health.
• The findings highlight the need for further development of actionable strategies and guidance.