Influence of Social Determinants of Health Across the Lifespan for Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are known to be important influences on health outcomes for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD), but the breadth of SDOH can make it challenging for health care professionals to engage meaningfully in assessment and intervention activities. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to identify what SDOH were most impactful to health care decision-making during different life stages for individuals with SCD who had experienced a gap in accessing medical care. Results indicated that perceptions of SDOH varied according to childhood, transitional, and adulthood life stages. Impactful SDOH in childhood relate to family support, peer relationships, academic experiences, and positive experiences in the health care system. During the transition life stage, peer support for independence and interactions with the health care system were impactful. Adulthood revealed that employment and experiences in the health care system influenced health care decisions. Health care professionals can use this information by prioritizing assessment related to SDOH relevant to each life stage. Additional research is needed to further explore SDOH by life stage and support intervention development.