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Ong SS, Tran D, Westlund E, Ahmed I, Russell GB, Gonzales A, Handa JT, Cai CX. Neighborhood-Level Social Determinants of Health and Presenting Characteristics for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments. JAMA Ophthalmol 2024; 142:845-854. [PMID: 39115836 PMCID: PMC11310845 DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.2889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024]
Abstract
Importance Functional outcomes after repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) are highly dependent on baseline visual acuity and foveal status. Adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) can present barriers to timely presentation for repair and limit vision outcomes. Objective To evaluate the association between neighborhood-level SDOH with baseline severity (visual acuity and fovea status) of RRD. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a retrospective cohort study that included adult patients 18 years and older who underwent primary repair of uncomplicated RRD at the Wilmer Eye Institute from January 2008 to December 2018. Study data were analyzed from December 2023 to April 2024. Exposures The census block group of patient home addresses were matched to multiple neighborhood-level SDOH including the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), per capita income, percentage of renters, percentage of rent burden, percentage of people using a food assistance program, percentage of uninsured individuals, mode of transportation to work, distance to the nearest transit stop, total road density, National Walkability Index, Index of Medical Underservice score, and aggregate cost of medical care. Main Outcomes and Measures Odds of presenting with vision worse than 20/40 or fovea-involving RRD using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, and insurance. Results A total of 700 patients (mean [SD] age, 57.9 [12.4] years; 432 male [61.7%]) were included. Every decile increase in ADI, indicating more socioeconomic disadvantage, was associated with an increased odds of presenting with worse visual acuity and fovea-involving RRD (odds ratio [OR], 1.14; 95% CI, 1.04-1.24; P = .004 and OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04-1.22; P = .005, respectively). Each $1000 increase in per capita income was associated with lower odds of presenting with worse vision (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99; P = .001). Every 1% increase in percentage of workers who drove to work was associated with an increased odds of presenting with worse vision and fovea-involving RRD (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03; P = .005 and OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.03; P = .04, respectively). Conclusions and Relevance Results of this cohort study suggest that patients with a residence in neighborhoods with more socioeconomic deprivation or a higher percentage of workers who drove to work were more likely to present with more severe RRD even after accounting for multiple individual-level characteristics. These findings support consideration of public policy changes to address the barriers faced by patients residing in certain neighborhoods who seek prompt surgical intervention for RRD to reduce health disparities in RRD outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally S. Ong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Diep Tran
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Erik Westlund
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ishrat Ahmed
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gregory B. Russell
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Anthony Gonzales
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James T. Handa
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cindy X. Cai
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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Choudhry HS, Patel AM, Nguyen HN, Kaleem MA, Handa JT. Significance of Social Determinants of Health in Tumor Presentation, Hospital Readmission, and Overall Survival in Ocular Oncology. Am J Ophthalmol 2024; 260:21-29. [PMID: 37956780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2023.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the association between social determinants of health (SDH) with presentation and outcomes in patients with ocular cancer. METHODS The National Cancer Database was queried for primary clinical tumor (cT) classifications of T1 to T4 N0M0 uveal melanoma, conjunctival melanoma, or retinoblastoma diagnosed between January 2006 and December 2017. Pearson χ2 analysis assessed differences in SDH-related characteristics between cancer cohorts. Binary logistic regression with adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and multivariate Cox proportional hazards ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were performed. DESIGN Cross-sectional with a nationally representative sample. RESULTS Three thousand nine hundred sixty-eight uveal melanoma cases, 352 conjunctival melanoma cases, and 480 retinoblastoma cases were included. Differences in race, primary payer status, income quartile, population density, facility location, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, history of malignancy, cT classification at presentation, surgical treatment, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, 30-day readmission, and overall survival (OS) were observed among the cancers. Female sex (aOR 0.819 [95% CI 0.689-0.973]) and top income quartile (aOR 0.691 [95% CI 0.525-0.908]) had decreased likelihood of advanced cT classification at presentation. No insurance (aOR 1.736 [95% CI 1.159-2.601]) and Medicaid primary payer status (aOR 1.875 [95% CI 1.323-2.656]) had increased likelihood of advanced cT classification. Patients in rural areas (aOR 7.157 [95% CI 1.875-27.320]) were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days after initial treatment. Increased age was associated with decreased 5-year OS (HR 1.040 [95% CI 1.033-1.047]). CONCLUSIONS SDH may influence advanced cT classification at presentation and 30-day readmission compared with OS in patients with ocular cancer, highlighting the need for ophthalmologists and public health efforts to address disparities in SDH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassaam S Choudhry
- From the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (H.S.S., A.M.P., H.N.N.), Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Aman M Patel
- From the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (H.S.S., A.M.P., H.N.N.), Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Helen N Nguyen
- From the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (H.S.S., A.M.P., H.N.N.), Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Mona A Kaleem
- Wilmer Eye Institute (M.A.K., J.T.H.), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - James T Handa
- Wilmer Eye Institute (M.A.K., J.T.H.), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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Tran MT, Gonzalez VV, Mead-Harvey C, Shen JF. Insights Into Eye Care Accessibility: Geospatial Distribution of Eye Care Providers and Socioeconomic Factors by ZIP Code. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2024; 13:21. [PMID: 38530303 PMCID: PMC10981161 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.13.3.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose In the United States, the ZIP Code has long been used to collect geospatial data revealing disparities in social determinants of health. This cross-sectional study examines the distribution of eye care access in association with local socioeconomic factors at a ZIP Code level. Methods Data from the 2020 Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services and American Community Survey were used to examine locations of 47,949 providers (17,631 ophthalmologists and 30,318 optometrists) and corresponding local socioeconomic variables (education, employment, and income). Multivariable zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to model eye care provider count per capita in each ZIP Code area with socioeconomic factors as independent covariates. Results For every 1% increase in percentage of population over 25 years with a bachelor's degree or higher, the expected number of providers increases by 4.4% (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.044; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.041-1.046; P < 0.001). For every 1% increase in percentage unemployment, the expected number of providers decreases by 2.7% (IRR = 0.973; 95% CI, 0.964-0.983; P < 0.001). However, for every $1000 increase in median household income, the expected number of providers decreases by 1.6% (IRR = 0.984; 95% CI, 0.983-0.986; P < 0.001). Conclusions Disparities in access exist in areas of lower employment and educational attainment, as both have positive correlations with eye care provider access. Conversely, areas of greater median household income have lower access to providers. Translational Relevance This research contributes to a greater field studying social determinants of health and may inform public health strategies on allocation of providers to improve equitable access to vision care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan T. Tran
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | | | | | - Joanne F. Shen
- Mayo Clinic Department of Ophthalmology, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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Awidi AA, Wang J, Varadaraj V, Ali M, Cai CX, Sommer A, Ramulu PY, Woreta FA. The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Vision Loss From Cataracts and Cataract Surgery Utilization in the United States-A National Health Interview Survey Analysis. Am J Ophthalmol 2023; 254:44-53. [PMID: 36963606 PMCID: PMC10514234 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the association of social determinants of health (SDOH) factors and cataract-related outcomes disparities. DESIGN Cross-sectional, with a nationally representative sample. METHODS We used publicly available data from the 2008, 2016, and 2017 National Health Interview Survey data sets. Outcome measures included self-reported prevalence for ever been diagnosed with cataract, vision loss secondary to cataracts, and the likelihood of undergoing cataract surgery. Survey-weighted, multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for age, race and ethnicity, and other relevant covariates, were used to examine the association between SDOH factors and cataract-related outcomes. RESULTS A total of 81,551 participants were included, who were predominantly between 18 and 44 years of age (49.6%), female (51.7%), and White (74.8%). Multivariable regression models with age as a covariate showed that individuals who were not working were more likely to report having cataracts than those who were working (P < .001). Those who needed but could not afford medical care in the past year were more likely to report vision loss secondary to cataracts than their counterparts (P < .001). Uninsured participants were less likely to report undergoing cataract surgery than those with private insurance (P = .03). Individuals with higher income (poverty-income ratio: 1.00-2.99 vs <1.00) were more likely to report undergoing cataract surgery (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS Several SDOH factors were associated with disparities in rates of cataract-related outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of ophthalmologists screening for social risks in patients with cataract, as these social factors are important barriers for access to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelhalim A Awidi
- From the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.A.A., M.A., C.X.C., A.S., P.Y.R., F.A.W.)
| | - Jiangxia Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health Biostatistics Center (J.W.), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Varshini Varadaraj
- Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (V.V.), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Muhammad Ali
- From the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.A.A., M.A., C.X.C., A.S., P.Y.R., F.A.W.)
| | - Cindy X Cai
- From the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.A.A., M.A., C.X.C., A.S., P.Y.R., F.A.W.)
| | - Alfred Sommer
- From the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.A.A., M.A., C.X.C., A.S., P.Y.R., F.A.W.)
| | - Pradeep Y Ramulu
- From the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.A.A., M.A., C.X.C., A.S., P.Y.R., F.A.W.)
| | - Fasika A Woreta
- From the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.A.A., M.A., C.X.C., A.S., P.Y.R., F.A.W.).
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Aguwa UT, Williams BK, Woreta FA. Diversity, equity and inclusion in ophthalmology. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2023; 34:378-381. [PMID: 37326224 DOI: 10.1097/icu.0000000000000970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in ophthalmology have received increased attention in recent years. This review will highlight disparities, barriers to workforce diversity, as well as current and future efforts to improve DEI in ophthalmology. RECENT FINDINGS Racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and sex disparities exist in vision health and across many ophthalmology subspecialties. The pervasive disparities result from factors such as a lack of access to eye care. In addition, ophthalmology is one of the least diverse specialties at the resident and faculty level. The lack of diversity has also been documented in ophthalmology clinical trials, wherein participant demographics do not reflect the diversity of the U.S. population. SUMMARY Addressing social determinants of health including racism and discrimination is necessary to promote equity in vision health. Diversifying the workforce and expanding the representation of marginalized groups in clinical research are also paramount. Supporting existing programmes and creating new ones focusing on improving workforce diversity and reducing eye care disparities are essential to ensure equity in vision health for all Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugochi T Aguwa
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Basil K Williams
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Fasika A Woreta
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Hicks PM, Niziol LM, Newman-Casey PA, Salami K, Singh K, Woodward MA. Social Risk Factor Associations With Presenting Visual Acuity in Patients With Microbial Keratitis. JAMA Ophthalmol 2023; 141:727-734. [PMID: 37318786 PMCID: PMC10273131 DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.2415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Importance Neighborhood-level social risk factors may contribute to health disparities in microbial keratitis (MK) disease presentation. Understanding neighborhood-level factors may identify areas for revised health policies to address inequities that impact eye health. Objective To investigate if social risk factors were associated with presenting best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for patients with MK. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a cross-sectional study of patients with a diagnosis of MK. Patients presenting to the University of Michigan with a diagnosis of MK between August 1, 2012, and February 28, 2021, were included in the study. Patient data were obtained from the University of Michigan electronic health record. Main Outcomes and Measures Individual-level characteristics (age, self-reported sex, self-reported race and ethnicity), presenting log of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA, and neighborhood-level factors, including measures on deprivation, inequity, housing burden, and transportation at the census block group, were obtained. Univariate associations of presenting BCVA (< 20/40 vs ≥20/40) with individual-level characteristics were assessed with 2-sample t, Wilcoxon, and χ2 tests. Logistic regression was used to test associations of neighborhood-level characteristics with the probability of presenting BCVA worse than 20/40 after adjustment for patient demographics. Results A total of 2990 patients with MK were identified and included in the study. Patients had a mean (SD) age of 48.6 (21.3) years, and 1723 were female (57.6%). Patients self-identified with the following race and ethnicity categories: 132 Asian (4.5%), 228 Black (7.8%), 99 Hispanic (3.5%), 2763 non-Hispanic (96.5%), 2463 White (84.4%), and 95 other (3.3%; included any race not previously listed). Presenting BCVA had a median (IQR) value of 0.40 (0.10-1.48) logMAR units (Snellen equivalent, 20/50 [20/25-20/600]), and 1508 of 2798 patients (53.9%) presented with BCVA worse than 20/40. Patients presenting with logMAR BCVA less than 20/40 were older than those who presented with 20/40 or higher (mean difference, 14.7 years; 95% CI, 13.3-16.1; P < .001). Furthermore, a larger percentage of male vs female sex patients presented with logMAR BCVA less than 20/40 (difference, 5.2%; 95% CI, 1.5-8.9; P = .04), as well as Black race (difference, 25.7%; 95% CI, 15.0%-36.5%;P < .001) and White race (difference, 22.6%; 95% CI, 13.9%-31.3%; P < .001) vs Asian race, and non-Hispanic vs Hispanic ethnicity (difference, 14.6%; 95% CI, 4.5%-24.8%; P = .04). After adjusting for age, self-reported sex, and self-reported race and ethnicity, worse Area Deprivation Index (odds ratio [OR], 1.30 per 10-unit increase; 95% CI, 1.25-1.35; P < .001), increased segregation (OR, 1.44 per 0.1-unit increase in Theil H index; 95% CI, 1.30-1.61; P < .001), higher percentage of households with no car (OR, 1.25 per 1 percentage point increase; 95% CI, 1.12-1.40; P = .001), and lower average number of cars per household (OR, 1.56 per 1 less car; 95% CI, 1.21-2.02; P = .003) were associated with increased odds of presenting BCVA worse than 20/40. Conclusion and Relevance Findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that in a sample of patients with MK, patient characteristics and where they live were associated with disease severity at presentation. These findings may inform future research on social risk factors and patients with MK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrice M. Hicks
- Kellogg Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Leslie M. Niziol
- Kellogg Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Paula Anne Newman-Casey
- Kellogg Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Kassim Salami
- Kellogg Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Karandeep Singh
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Maria A. Woodward
- Kellogg Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Hicks PM, Armstrong ML, Woodward MA. Current social determinants of health and social risk factors in conditions of the cornea: a scoping review. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2023; 34:324-333. [PMID: 37097186 PMCID: PMC10247394 DOI: 10.1097/icu.0000000000000960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To achieve health equity in eye health and vision care, social determinants of health (SDoH) and the associated social risk factors must be addressed. To address SDoH and social risk factors in ophthalmology, they must first be identified. The purpose of this review was to determine the SDoH and social risk factors in conditions of the cornea that have most recently been explored. RECENT FINDINGS This review identified social risk factors associated with all five domains of SDoH, as outlined by Healthy People 2030. The neighborhood and built environment was the domain identified the most for both exploration and observation. The social and community context domain was the least explored, and healthcare access and quality and social and community context domains were the least observed. The cornea condition explored the most in relation to SDoH was dry eye syndrome. SUMMARY The findings from this review can inform clinicians on the social risk factors that could be screened for in eye care facilities, so patients can be connected with services to minimize the impact of social risk factors on cornea conditions. Furthermore, the findings have identified cornea conditions and domains of SDoH that are understudied which can be an area for future studies by vision researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrice M. Hicks
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Maria A. Woodward
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Phero A, Dutton RP, Chen CL, Whitlock EL. Contemporary anesthesia practice for cataract surgery: analysis of the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. J Cataract Refract Surg 2022; 48:1472-1474. [PMID: 36449677 PMCID: PMC10108848 DOI: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000001065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Phero
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Richard P. Dutton
- US Anesthesia Partners, Dallas, TX, USA
- Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Catherine L. Chen
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth L. Whitlock
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Williams AM, Sahel JA. Addressing Social Determinants of Vision Health. Ophthalmol Ther 2022; 11:1371-1382. [PMID: 35674883 PMCID: PMC9174922 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-022-00531-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Social determinants of health encompass the quality of an individual’s social and physical environment and its effect on health outcomes. Disparities in these social and environmental factors have a significant role in vision health disparities and inequity in eye care. In this review, we discuss how disparities in visual impairment and eye care utilization are affected by each of the five core domains of social determinants of health, namely economic stability (income, employment, and food security), education (education level and health literacy), health care access (insurance and medical costs), neighborhood environment (housing conditions, home ownership, pollution, and crime), and social context (race and racism). Moreover, we describe a framework by which ophthalmologists can take action to address social determinants of vision health. These actionable strategies are guided by recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and have five complementary components to address social needs: awareness (screening for social needs), assistance (connecting patients with social care resources), adjustment (altering clinical care in recognition of social needs), alignment (understanding social assets and collaborating with community organizations), and advocacy (promoting policies to address social needs). Addressing social determinants of health is complex but achievable through collaborative strategies. Ophthalmologists have an important leadership role in addressing eye care disparities by taking action on underlying social determinants of vision health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Williams
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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