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Health Disparity Search Terms

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Finding articles about health disparity topics can be challenging to find in the literature. This is due to the fact that there is no Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) term that encompasses all of the socioeconomic factors behind health dispartities. However, with 2008, Medline has introduced two new subject headings that attempt to capture health dispartiy topics (see bolded subject headings below). A good strategy to use is trying a combination of keyword searching and subject headings to find relevant articles.

This list of search terms can be used in either Ovid Medline or PubMed searching. For more assistance on literature searching, please contact the Bio-Medical Library reference staff at: 612-626-3260 or send an email to us at: medref@umn.edu

MeSH Term or Keyword Definition 
African Americans Persons living in the United States having origins in any of the black groups of Africa 
Asian Americans Persons living in the United States having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent 
Communication BarriersFactors such as language or sociocultural relationships, which interfere in the meaningful interpretation or transmission of ideas between individuals or groups
Educational StatusEducational attainment or level of education of individuals
Employment The state of being engaged in an activity or service for wages or salary 
Ethnnic GroupsA group of people with a common cultural heritage that sets them apart from others in a variety of social relationships 
Family Characteristics Size and composition of the family
Health Behavior Behaviors expressed by individuals to protect, maintain or promote their health status. For example, proper diet, and appropriate exercise are activities perceived to influence health status. Life style is closely associated with health behavior and factors influencing life style are socioeconomic, educational, and cultural 
Health Education Education that increases the awareness and favorably influences the attitudes and knowledge relating to the improvement of health on a personal or community basis 
health disparities search as a keyword
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL) 
health literacysearch as a keyword
Health PromotionEncouraging consumer behaviors most likely to optimize health potentials (physical and psychosocial) through health information, preventive programs, and access to medical care
Health Services AccessibilityThe degree to which individuals are inhibited or facilitated in their ability to gain entry to and to receive care and services from the health care system. Factors influencing this ability include geographic, architectural, transportational, and financial considerations, among others
Health Services ResearchThe integration of epidemiologic, sociological, economic, and other analytic sciences in the study of health services. Health services research is usually concerned with relationships between need, demand, supply, use, and outcome of health services. The aim of the research is evaluation, particularly in terms of structure, process, output, and outcome 
Health StatusThe level of health of the individual, group, or population as subjectively assessed by the individual or by more objective measures 
Health Status DisparitiesVariation in rates of disease occurrence and disabilities between socioeconomic and /or geographically defined population groups. Year introduced: 2008
Health Status Indicators The measurement of the health status for a given population using a variety of indices, including morbidity, mortality, and available health resources
Healthcare DisparitiesDifferences in access to or availability of facilities and services. Year introduced: 2008
Hispanic Americans Persons living in the United States of Mexican (MEXICAN AMERICANS), Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin. The concept does not include Brazilian Americans or Portuguese Americans
Housing Living facilities for humans
Income Revenues or receipts accruing from business enterprise, labor, or invested capital
Indians, North AmericanIndividual members of North American ethnic groups with ancient historic ancestral origins in Asia
Insurance, HealthInsurance providing coverage of medical, surgical, or hospital care in general
InuitsInuktitut-speakers generally associated with the northern polar region
Medically Underserved Area A geographic location which has insufficient health resources (manpower and/or facilities) to meet the medical needs of the resident population
Mexican Americans Persons living in the United States of Mexican descent
Minority Groups A subgroup having special characteristics within a larger group, often bound together by special ties which distinguish it from the larger group 
PovertyA situation in which the level of living of an individual, family, or group is below the standard of the community. It is often related to a specific income level
PrejudiceA preconceived judgment made without adequate evidence and not easily alterable by presentation of contrary evidence
Public HousingHousing subsidized by tax funds, usually intended for low income persons or families 
Quality of Health CareThe levels of excellence which characterize the health service or health care provided based on accepted standards of quality
Residence CharacteristicsElements of residence that characterize a population. They are applicable in determining need for and utilization of health services
Rural HealthThe status of health in rural populations 
Social ClassA stratum of people with similar position and prestige; includes social stratification. Social class is measured by criteria such as education, occupation, and income
Social EnvironmentThe aggregate of social and cultural institutions, forms, patterns, and processes that influence the life of an individual or community
Social SupportSupport systems that provide assistance and encouragement to individuals with physical or emotional disabilities in order that they may better cope. Informal social support is usually provided by friends, relatives, or peers, while formal assistance is provided by churches, groups, etc
Socioeconomic FactorsSocial and economic factors that characterize the individual or group within the social structure
StressA pathological process resulting from the reaction of the body to external forces and abnormal conditions that tend to disturb the organism's homeostasis
TransportationThe means of moving persons, animals, goods, or materials from one place to another 
Urban HealthThe status of health in urban populations
Vulnerable Population Groups of persons whose range of options is severely limited, who are frequently subjected to COERCION in their DECISION MAKING, or who may be compromised in their ability to give INFORMED CONSENT

The contents of "Health Disparity Search Terms" have been adapted, with permission from http://library.hsc.unt.edu/guides/HealthDisparitySearchTerms.cfm belonging to the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX.