2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

337089
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Social Determinants of Health: A Meta-analysis


Monday, November 2, 2015

Cynthia Harris, DHA, MBPA, MSW, School of Social Work, Howard University, Washington, DC
Janice Davis, PhD, MSW, School of Social Work, Howard University, Washington, DC
Tracy Whitaker, DSW, MSW, School of Social Work, Howard University, Washington, DC
Janice Berry-Edwards, PhD, MSW, School of Social Work, Howard University, Washington, DC
According to Health People 2020, “social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks” (Healthy People.gov, 2015). The researchers conducted a literature review to determine the availability of assessments tools that are utilized to evaluate client’s bio—psychosocial challenges that can negatively impact physical and mental health outcomes. The purpose of the review was to determine if available tool could be utilized across health professions.  

A systematic review was conducted utilizing various search engines including Google Scholar, EbscoHost, and PubMed Central using key words: social determinants of health, measurement tools, and assessment tools. The researchers found a paucity of literature that provided cross discipline assessment tools for this issue. As a result, the researchers proposed the use of Person-in-Environment System (P.I.E.) as an evaluation tool.

The P.I.E.classification system was originally conceptualized  in 1981 “to classify and codify the problems presented by social workers’ clients to more accurately determine appropriate intervention strategies and  to more accurately develop agency and community programs” (Karls and Wandrei, 1994, p. xiii). The authors hypothesized that the Person-in-Environment System for social functioning problems is the most effective mechanism for assessing a client’s level of  physical and mental health functioning as well as environmental factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. The authors proposed that the P.I.E. classification system could utilized by other health professionals in assessing and intervening with clients.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe the process of securing literature on the availability of assessment tools used to measure social determinants of health across health and social service professionals. Discuss at least 3 assessment tools including the P.I.E. classification system which have be utilized to determine social determinants of health by health and social service professionals Compare the social work Person-in-Environment Classification System with 2 other available assessment tools regarding practitioner usability and community applicability. Understand how the P.I.E assessment informs policy on culturally sensitive practice evaluation tools used by interdisciplinary public health and social service providers.

Keyword(s): Health Assessment, Social Work

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I hold a Master of Social Work degree and a Master of Business and Public Administration with a Health Service Management concentration. In addition, I hold a terminal degree in Health Administration. Social determinants of health have long been the area of expertise in social work which utilizes a bio-psychosocial perspective of the entire person. I teach Social Work in Health Care Settings and am versed in all aspects of the health delivery system.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3318.0: Poster Session 1