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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/89594
Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Methodological issues in measuring health disparities |
Author: | Keppel, K. Pamuk, E. Lynch, J. Carter-Pokras, O. Kim, I. Mays, V. Pearcy, J. Schoenbach, V. Weissman, J. |
Citation: | Vital and health statistics. Series 2, Data evaluation and methods research, 2005; (141):1-22 |
Publisher: | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
Issue Date: | 2005 |
ISSN: | 0083-2057 2333-0872 |
Statement of Responsibility: | By Kenneth Keppel, Elsie Pamuk, John Lynch, Olivia Carter-Pokras, Insun Kim, Vickie Mays, Jeffrey Pearcy, Victor Schoenbach, and Joel S. Weissman |
Abstract: | OBJECTIVES: This report discusses six issues that affect the measurement of disparities in health between groups in a population: Selecting a reference point from which to measure disparity. Measuring disparity in absolute or in relative terms. Measuring in terms of favorable or adverse events. Measuring in pair-wise or in summary fashion. Choosing whether to weight groups according to group size. Deciding whether to consider any inherent ordering of the groups. These issues represent choices that are made when disparities are measured. METHODS: Examples are used to highlight how these choices affect specific measures of disparity. RESULTS: These choices can affect the size and direction of disparities measured at a point in time and conclusions about the size and direction of changes in disparity over time. Eleven guidelines for measuring disparities are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Choices concerning the measurement of disparity should be made deliberately, recognizing that each choice will affect the results. When results are presented, the choices on which the measurements are based should be described clearly and justified appropriately. |
Keywords: | Humans Data Collection Health Status Indicators Vital Statistics Healthy People Programs Ethnic Groups Social Justice United States Female Male |
Rights: | All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated. |
Published version: | http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_02/sr02_141.pdf |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 2 Public Health publications |
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hdl_89594.pdf | Published version | 704.71 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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