Using data to understand how social factors affect health
Data-Driven Methods to Identify Social Determinants of Health
This study is looking at how things like education and income affect your health and healthcare, especially for people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and it aims to make it easier for doctors to understand these factors so they can provide better care for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10975050 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how social determinants of health (SDOH), such as education and income, impact patient health behaviors and outcomes. It aims to improve the documentation of these factors in electronic health records (EHR) to enhance healthcare delivery, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities. By leveraging health information technology, the study seeks to create a systematic approach for identifying SDOH, which can lead to better-targeted interventions and referrals to social services. The ultimate goal is to improve population health management and patient care within the VA healthcare system.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include patients receiving care at the VA who may be affected by social determinants such as income, education, and social isolation.
Not a fit: Patients who do not interact with the VA healthcare system or those whose health is not influenced by social determinants may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved healthcare outcomes by addressing the social factors that affect patients' health.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in using data-driven approaches to identify social determinants of health, indicating that this methodology is promising.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frey, Lewis James — Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Frey, Lewis James
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.