
Inequities in health care and corresponding disparities in health outcomes are pressing issues across the world. Preventable differences in health outcomes, including life expectancy, prevalence of chronic diseases, and causes of mortality, have been documented in the United States (US), Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), Brazil, France, and other many other countries (Hughes et al., 2022, p. 19; Ray et al., 2018; Sheikh et al., 2022). Disparities are associated with patients’ socioeconomic status, immigration status, geographic region, disability, gender and sexual identity (National Academies of Sciences et al., 2017). Additionally, racial/ethnic disparities are well-established. In the US, for example, Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic populations report worse healthcare experiences and health outcomes compared to White populations (2023 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, 2023.; Advancing Racial Equity in U.S. Health Carayon et al., 2020; Unequal Treatment, 2003). Resource availability, environmental conditions, access to health care, and structural influences on people’s ability to adhere to medical recommendations are significant drivers of population health (Braveman et al., 2011). At the same time, there is increasing recognition that the quality of medical care is a key contributor to disparities in health outcomes with prior research identifying differences in the quality of care and utilization of health services for racialized individuals(2023 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, 2023; Unequal Treatment, 2003). Over the past twenty years, the US has made little progress on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in access to and quality of care and similar challenges persist with other marginalized communities, including those living with disabilities (Benjamin et al., 2024; Mitra et al., 2022). This work reaffirmed that improving medical care within and across settings is critical to addressing disparities in outcomes and cultivating conditions that support health and well-being of the diverse populations served by our healthcare system
Citation:
Alfred, M., Tully, K., & Montague, E. (2024). Advancing healthcare equity through human factors engineering. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 104, 103654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2024.103654