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. 2010 Jan;7(1):A16.
Epub 2009 Dec 15.

Grading and reporting health and health disparities

Bridget C Booske  1 , Angela M K Rohan, David A Kindig, Patrick L Remington
Affiliations

Grading and reporting health and health disparities

Bridget C Booske et al. Prev Chronic Dis. 2010 Jan.

Abstract

Report cards are widely used in health for drawing attention to performance indicators. We developed a state health report card with separate grades for health and health disparities to generate interest in and awareness of differences in health across different population subgroups and to identify opportunities to improve health. We established grading curves from data for all 50 states for 2 outcomes (mortality and unhealthy days) and 4 life stages (infants, children and young adults, working-age adults, and older adults). We assigned grades for health within each life stage by sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomics, and geography. We also assigned a health disparity grade to each life stage. Report cards can simplify complex information for lay audiences and garner media and policy maker attention. However, their development requires methodologic and value choices that may limit their interpretation.

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Figures

Graphic depiction of Wisconsin working-age adult mortality rates, by subpopulation
Figure 3
Example of graphic reporting of population subgroup grades. Reprinted from Booske BC, Kempf AM, Athens JK, Kindig DA, Remington PL. Health of Wisconsin report card. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute; 2007.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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