Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2009 Sep;44(9):899-908.
doi: 10.1002/ppul.21075.

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

Glorisa Canino  1 , Elizabeth L McQuaid, Maria Alvarez, Angel Colon, Cynthia Esteban, Vivian Febo, Robert B Klein, Daphne Koinis Mitchell, Sheryl J Kopel, Federico Montealegre, Alexander N Ortega, Jose Rodriguez-Santana, Ronald Seifer, Gregory K Fritz
Affiliations
Review

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

Glorisa Canino et al. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009 Sep.

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.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Framework of asthma disparities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Homa DM, Mannino DM, Lara M. Asthma mortality in U.S. Hispanics of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban heritage, 1990–1995. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000;161:504–509. - PubMed
    1. Beckett WS, Belanger K, Gent JF, Holford TR, Leaderer BP. Asthma among Puerto Rican Hispanics: a multi-ethnic comparison study of risk factors. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996;154:894–899. - PubMed
    1. Cohen RT, Canino GJ, Bird HR, Shen S, Rosner BA, Celedon JC. Area of residence, birthplace, and asthma in Puerto Rican children. Chest. 2007;131:1331–1338. - PubMed
    1. Findley S, Lawler K, Bindra M, Maggio L, Penachio M, Maylahn C. Elevated asthma and indoor environmental exposures among Puerto Rican children of East Harlem. J Asthma. 2003;40:557–569. - PubMed
    1. Loyo-Berrios N, Orengo J, Serrano-Rodriguez R. Childhood asthma prevalence in northern Puerto Rico, the Rio Grande, and Loíza experience. J Asthma. 2006;43:619–624. - PubMed

Publication types