Factors Associated With, and Mitigation Strategies for, Health Care Disparities Faced by Patients With Headache Disorders

Jessica Kiarashi, Juliana Vanderpluym, Christina L. Szperka, Scott Turner, Mia T. Minen, Susan Broner, Alexandra C. Ross, Amanda E. Wagstaff, Marissa Anto, Maya Marzouk, Teshamae S. Monteith, Noah Rosen, Salvador L. Manrriquez, Elizabeth Seng, Alan Finkel, Larry Charleston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

ObjectiveTo review contemporary issues of health care disparities in headache medicine with regard to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and geography and propose solutions for addressing these disparities.MethodsAn Internet and PubMed search was performed and literature was reviewed for key concepts underpinning disparities in headache medicine. Content was refined to areas most salient to our goal of informing the provision of equitable care in headache treatment through discussions with a group of 16 experts from a range of headache subspecialties.ResultsTaken together, a multitude of factors, including racism, SES, insurance status, and geographical disparities, contribute to the inequities that exist within the health care system when treating headache disorders. Interventions such as improving public education, advocacy, optimizing telemedicine, engaging in community outreach to educate primary care providers, training providers in cultural sensitivity and competence and implicit bias, addressing health literacy, and developing recruitment strategies to increase representation of underserved groups within headache research are proposed as solutions to ameliorate disparities.ConclusionNeurologists have a responsibility to provide and deliver equitable care to all. It is important that disparities in the management of headache disorders are identified and addressed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)280-289
Number of pages10
JournalNeurology
Volume97
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Aug 2021
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Factors Associated With, and Mitigation Strategies for, Health Care Disparities Faced by Patients With Headache Disorders'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this