Issues and methods in disparities research: the Rhode Island-Puerto Rico asthma center.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies have documented higher rates of asthma prevalence and morbidity in minority children compared to non-Latino white (NLW) children. Few studies focus on the mechanisms involved in explaining this disparity, and fewer still on the methodological challenges involved in rigorous disparities research. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: This article provides an overview of challenges and potential solutions to research design for studies of health disparities. The methodological issues described in this article were framed on an empirical model of asthma health disparities that views disparities as resulting from several factors related to the healthcare system and the individual/community system. The methods used in the Rhode Island-Puerto Rico Asthma Center are provided as examples, illustrating the challenges in executing disparities research. RESULTS: Several methods are described: distinguishing ethnic/racial differences from methodological artifacts, identifying and adapting culturally sensitive measures to explain disparities, and addressing the challenges involved in determining asthma and its severity in Latino and other minority children. The measures employed are framed within each of the components of the conceptual model presented. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding ethnic and/or cultural disparities in asthma morbidity is a complicated process. Methodologic approaches to studying the problem must reflect this complexity, allowing us to move from documenting disparities to understanding them, and ultimately to reducing them. Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Author information

Author/s: Canino, Glorisa (G); McQuaid, Elizabeth L (EL); Alvarez, Maria (M); Colon, Angel (A); Esteban, Cynthia (C); Febo, Vivian (V); Klein, Robert B (RB); Mitchell, Daphne Koinis (DK); Kopel, Sheryl J (SJ); Montealegre, Federico (F); Ortega, Alexander N (AN); Rodriguez-Santana, Jose (J); Seifer, Ronald (R); Fritz, Gregory K (GK);

Affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico. glorisa.canino(-atsign-)upr.edu

Grants: 5P60 MD002261-02 (Agency:NCMHD NIH HHS) ; U01-HL072438 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Review

Journal: Pediatric pulmonology (Pediatr Pulmonol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 44 (issue 9) : pp 899-908

Dates: Created 2009/09/01; Completed 2009/11/17;

PMID: 19658111, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 11/17/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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