Are Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) Data Ready for Primetime?

ISSUE: Social determinants of health (SDOH) are nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, encompassing elements like education, employment, housing, and food insecurity. It is well-established that SDOH impact health outcomes and are associated with health disparities. The importance of understanding the impact of SDOH on access to healthcare and health outcomes is undisputed. However, whether electronic SDOH data capture within electronic health records is fit for purpose to address health disparities and enhance clinical trial diversity for individuals impacted by SDOH is uncertain. OVERVIEW: FDA recently issued draft guidance for the industry on “Diversity Action Plans to Improve Enrollment of Participants from Underrepresented Populations in Clinical Studies.” SDOH create challenges for active participation in health care and research. Gaining a better understanding of this relationship is the first step in developing interventions to address disparities that negatively impact health equity. However, barriers remain in our ability to comprehensively study the impact of social determinants on access and outcomes due to gaps in the data, particularly robust measures of SDOH. The collection of SDOH data has been increasing, and with it, research on its impact on health outcomes. This session will debate the readiness of SDOH data to inform our efforts to address health disparities in the US. Smita Kothari-Talwar will provide an overview of the issue, including a historical perspective. Amy O’Sullivan will argue that the collection of SDOH measures has improved in recent years, citing examples of research demonstrating the impact of SDOH on diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. C. Daniel Mullins will take the opposing view that the data are not yet ready to be used to inform decisions regarding interventions to address heath disparities. The outcome of this debate will help illuminate the current state of SDOH data readiness and guide future efforts to effectively combat health disparities.