Assessing Social Determinants of Health During Critical Illness: Implications and Methodologies

Abstract

A growing body of literature has identified social determinants of health (SDoH) as potential contributors to health disparities in pediatric critical illness. Pediatric critical care providers should use validated screening tools to identify unmet social needs and ensure appropriate referral through multisector partnerships. Pediatric critical care researchers should consider factors outside of race and insurance status and explore the association between neighborhood-level factors and disparate health outcomes during critical illness. Measuring and addressing the SDoH at the individual and neighborhood level are important next steps in mitigating health disparities for critically ill pediatric patients.

Keywords: Disparities; Equity; Intensive care unit; Neighborhood disadvantage; Pediatrics; SDoH; Screening; Social determinants of health.