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Applying Race and Ethnicity in Health Disparities Research
Keith C Norris1, Matthew F Hudson2, M Roy Wilson3
1Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|October 29, 2025
Summary
Race and ethnicity are social constructs, not biological determinants of health. Misapplication in medicine obscures true health drivers, necessitating a focus on social and environmental factors for equitable research and care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Public Health
- Health Equity
Background:
- Race and ethnicity are frequently used in healthcare and research, but often misapplied.
- This misapplication stems from race essentialism, the flawed belief in inherent biological differences between racial groups.
- Ethnicity, like race, is a social construct without inherent biological meaning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the RCMI 2025 Annual Grantee Meeting keynote on race and ethnicity in medicine.
- To analyze the societal origins and misapplication of race and ethnicity in public health and policy.
- To explore the use and misuse of race and ethnicity in biomedical research and clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Summary of a keynote session presentation.
- Discussion of societal and historical contexts of race and ethnicity.
- Analysis of implications for health services research and clinical trials.
Main Results:
- Race and ethnicity are socially constructed, not biological indicators of health outcomes.
- Misapplication of these concepts can obscure true causal relationships in disease.
- Current uses in research and practice often perpetuate harmful essentialist beliefs.
Conclusions:
- A more tenable approach uses race and ethnicity to examine social and environmental health drivers.
- Improving population representation in clinical trials is crucial for health equity.
- Recommendations focus on reframing the use of race and ethnicity to advance health research and outcomes.
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