Sarah Gehlert1, Graham A Colditz. 1. The Brown School, Box 1196, Washington University, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. sgehlert@wustl.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The first 20 years of publication of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention occurred during a period of increased attention to health disparities and advances in knowledge about their determinants. Yet, despite clear documentation of disparities and advanced understanding of determinants, we have made little headway in reducing disparities at the population level. Multilevel models, such as one produced by the Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD), hold promise for understanding the complex determinants of cancer disparities and their interactions as well as translating scientific discoveries into solutions. The CPHHD model maps across a range of scientific disciplines, from the biological to the social, each with its own disciplinary language and methods. The ability to work effectively across disciplinary boundaries is essential to framing comprehensive solutions. METHODS: After briefly characterizing the current state of knowledge about health disparities, we outline three major challenges faced by disparities researchers and practitioners and offer suggestions for addressing these challenges. RESULTS: These challenges are how to consider race and ethnicity in disparities research, how best to translate discoveries into public health solutions to cancer disparities, and how to create a research environment that supports the successful execution of multilevel research. CONCLUSIONS: Attention to all three of the challenges outlined above is urgently needed to advance our efforts to eliminate cancer disparities. IMPACT: Addressing the challenges outlined above will help to eliminate disparities in the future.
BACKGROUND: The first 20 years of publication of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention occurred during a period of increased attention to health disparities and advances in knowledge about their determinants. Yet, despite clear documentation of disparities and advanced understanding of determinants, we have made little headway in reducing disparities at the population level. Multilevel models, such as one produced by the Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD), hold promise for understanding the complex determinants of cancer disparities and their interactions as well as translating scientific discoveries into solutions. The CPHHD model maps across a range of scientific disciplines, from the biological to the social, each with its own disciplinary language and methods. The ability to work effectively across disciplinary boundaries is essential to framing comprehensive solutions. METHODS: After briefly characterizing the current state of knowledge about health disparities, we outline three major challenges faced by disparities researchers and practitioners and offer suggestions for addressing these challenges. RESULTS: These challenges are how to consider race and ethnicity in disparities research, how best to translate discoveries into public health solutions to cancer disparities, and how to create a research environment that supports the successful execution of multilevel research. CONCLUSIONS: Attention to all three of the challenges outlined above is urgently needed to advance our efforts to eliminate cancer disparities. IMPACT: Addressing the challenges outlined above will help to eliminate disparities in the future.
Authors: James Krieger; Carol Allen; Allen Cheadle; Sandra Ciske; James K Schier; Kirsten Senturia; Marianne Sullivan Journal: Health Educ Behav Date: 2002-06
Authors: Lainie Friedman Ross; Allan Loup; Robert M Nelson; Jeffrey R Botkin; Rhonda Kost; George R Smith; Sarah Gehlert Journal: J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics Date: 2010-03 Impact factor: 1.742
Authors: Nancy L Saccone; Jen C Wang; Naomi Breslau; Eric O Johnson; Dorothy Hatsukami; Scott F Saccone; Richard A Grucza; Lingwei Sun; Weimin Duan; John Budde; Robert C Culverhouse; Louis Fox; Anthony L Hinrichs; Joseph Henry Steinbach; Meng Wu; John P Rice; Alison M Goate; Laura J Bierut Journal: Cancer Res Date: 2009-08-25 Impact factor: 12.701
Authors: E Ray Dorsey; Jason de Roulet; Joel P Thompson; Jason I Reminick; Ashley Thai; Zachary White-Stellato; Christopher A Beck; Benjamin P George; Hamilton Moses Journal: JAMA Date: 2010-01-13 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Timothy Caulfield; Stephanie M Fullerton; Sarah E Ali-Khan; Laura Arbour; Esteban G Burchard; Richard S Cooper; Billie-Jo Hardy; Simrat Harry; Robyn Hyde-Lay; Jonathan Kahn; Rick Kittles; Barbara A Koenig; Sandra Sj Lee; Michael Malinowski; Vardit Ravitsky; Pamela Sankar; Stephen W Scherer; Béatrice Séguin; Darren Shickle; Guilherme Suarez-Kurtz; Abdallah S Daar Journal: Genome Med Date: 2009-01-21 Impact factor: 11.117
Authors: Janet M Hock; Amelia Nealley; Deborah Morrison; Christopher Farah; H Dean Hosgood; Sheila Zahm Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2011-12-05 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Blase N Polite; Toni Cipriano-Steffens; Fay Hlubocky; James Dignam; Mandira Ray; David Smith; Samir Undevia; Evie Sprague; Olufunmilayo Olopade; Christopher Daugherty; George Fitchett; Sarah Gehlert Journal: J Racial Ethn Health Disparities Date: 2016-03-16
Authors: Caress Dean; Amanda J Fogleman; Whitney E Zahnd; Alexander E Lipka; Ripan Singh Malhi; Kristin R Delfino; Wiley D Jenkins Journal: J Community Genet Date: 2017-05-05
Authors: Jessica L Krok-Schoen; Brittany M Brewer; Gregory S Young; Rory C Weier; Cathy M Tatum; Cecilia R DeGraffinreid; Electra D Paskett Journal: Cancer Date: 2015-04-28 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Dawn M Holman; Kathleen A Fox; Jeffrey D Glenn; Gery P Guy; Meg Watson; Katie Baker; Vilma Cokkinides; Mark Gottlieb; DeAnn Lazovich; Frank M Perna; Blake P Sampson; Andrew B Seidenberg; Craig Sinclair; Alan C Geller Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 5.043