[Reduction of health inequalities: Lor’IS, a tool for health promotion field workers]

Abstract

Introduction: Health inequalities is a complex issue and may appear to be unrelated to the reality of field workers. This article describes Lor'IS, a support grid for project leaders designed to enable them to review their actions based on criteria contributing to reduction of social and geographical inequalities in health.

Methods: This tool was based on a review of the literature and assessment of the needs of field workers. It was created by a multidisciplinary working party and was tested and improved by the future users.

Results: Lor'IS justifies the role of all institutional or associative field workers to fight against inequalities in health. This readily accessible tool is designed to facilitate the setting-up of health promotion projects, that are known to contribute to reduction of these inequalities, based on a set of 51 items.

Discussion: This approach must be extended to professionals in the fields of health care, housing, employment, rural environment, who constitute essential links in reduction of inequalities, but who are currently not involved in this challenge. Lastly, advocacy actions must be conducted to ensure that health inequality issues are integrated into all public policies.