Social determinants of health may identify gaps in care

LOS ANGELES — Surveys that identified socioeconomic factors of participants helped researchers identify gaps in care, according to data presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress.

David Bradley, MD, MS, assistant professor in the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and colleagues received 2,339 responses from participants in the Learning Health System Network who had overweight or obesity.

Researchers found that participants who made less than $50,000 annually or did not have a 4-year college degree may be less likely to seek weight management help from their primary care provider than those who had higher income and education levels.

“Barriers exist between patients’ receiving obesity management and advice from their health care providers, and among these are socioeconomic determinants of health,” Bradley told Healio.

“This study adds to a growing body of literature indicating that socioeconomic factors must be taken into account when implementing policy for chronic diseases and that health care providers must also take these into account when seeing patients,” he added.

For more Healio coverage of Bradley and colleagues’ findings, click here. – by Janel Miller and Phil Neuffer

Reference:

Taufeeq M, et al. “Social determinants of health strongly influence the patient-health care provider experience in overweight and obesity.” Presented at: AACE Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress; April 24-28, 2019; Los Angeles.

Disclosure: Bradley reports this study was supported through the Learning Health System Network and supported by a grant from PICORI. He reports no relevant financial disclosures.