Advancing Health Disparities Research Within the Health Care System: A Conceptual Framework
Amy M. Kilbourne, PhD,
Galen Switzer, PhD,
Kelly Hyman, PhD,
Megan Crowley-Matoka, PhD and
Michael J. Fine, MD, MSc
All authors are with the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pa. Amy M. Kilbourne and Galen Switzer are with the Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. Megan Crowley-Matoka is with the Departments of Medicine and Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh. Michael J. Fine is with the Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh.
FIGURE 1——The 3 phases of the disparities research agenda.
Note. In our framework, the health disparities research agenda progresses in 3 sequential phases of research. Phase 1 (detecting disparities) informs phase 2 studies (understanding disparities), which in turn informs phase 3 research (interventions to reduce or eliminate disparities).
FIGURE 2——Understanding the origins of health and health care disparities from a health services research perspective: key potential determinants of health disparities within the health care system, including individual, provider, and health care system factors.
