Surgical Clinics: Introduction to Concepts of Social Determinants in Surgery

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

• Social determinants of health (SDOH) are societal conditions affecting wellness, illness, and life expectancy.
• These factors critically influence health outcomes, including the need for and results of surgical interventions.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 10 key SDOH categories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and contextualize the 10 WHO-defined SDOH.
• To analyze the specific impact of each SDOH on surgical care.
• To highlight the importance of SDOH in surgical health equity.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of WHO definitions.
• Conceptual analysis of SDOH in relation to surgical care pathways.
• Framework development for understanding SDOH impact on surgical patients.

Main Results:

• Detailed definitions and contextualization of 10 SDOH categories.
• Established links between SDOH (e.g., income, education, housing) and surgical care access/outcomes.
• Identified specific SDOH impacting surgical patient populations.

Conclusions:

• SDOH are fundamental determinants of surgical health outcomes.
• Addressing SDOH is essential for reducing disparities in surgical care.
• A comprehensive understanding of SDOH is vital for equitable and effective surgical service delivery.