[EQ] Racial discrimination and health: A systematic review of scales with a focus on their psychometric properties

de: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) : ruglucia@paho.org
fecha: 16 de febrero de 2010 09:37
asunto: [EQ] Racial discrimination and health: A systematic review of scales with a focus on their psychometric properties


Racial discrimination and health:
A systematic review of scales with a focus on their psychometric properties



Joao Luiz Bastosa, , , Roger Keller Celesteb, Eduardo Faersteinb and Aluisio J.D. Barrosa
a Post-graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Department of Social MedicinePelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
b Post-graduate Program in Public Health, Institute of Social Medicine, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Social Science & Medicine - Available online 1 February 2010.



To read the paper, please, follow the link below:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.12.020


URL: http://bit.ly/cW430p

‘……The literature addressing the use of the race variable to study causes of racial inequities in health is characterized by a dense discussion on the pitfalls in interpreting statistical associations as causal relationships.

In contrast, fewer studies have addressed the use of racial discrimination scales to estimate discrimination effects on health, and none of them provided a thorough assessment of the scales' psychometric properties. Our aim was to systematically review self-reported racial discrimination scales to describe their development processes and to provide a synthesis of their psychometric properties.

A computer-based search in PubMed, LILACS, PsycInfo, Scielo, Scopus and Web of Science was conducted without any type of restriction, using search queries containing free and controlled vocabulary. After initially identifying 3060 references, 24 scales were included in the review.

Despite the fact that discrimination stands as topic of international relevance, 23 (96%) scales were developed within the United States. Most studies (67%, N = 16) were published in the last 12 years, documenting initial attempts at scale development, with a dearth of investigations on scale refinements or cross-cultural adaptations. Psychometric properties were acceptable; sixteen of all scales presented reliability scores above 0.7, 19 out of 20 instruments confirmed at least 75% of all previously stated hypotheses regarding the constructs under consideration, and conceptual dimensional structure was supported by means of any type of factor analysis in 17 of 21 scales.


However, independent researchers, apart from the original scale developers, have rarely examined such scales. The use of racial terminology and how it may influence self-reported experiences of discrimination has not yet been thoroughly examined.

The need to consider other types of unfair treatment as concurrently important health-damaging exposures, and the idea of a universal instrument which would permit cross-cultural adaptations, should be discussed among researchers in this emerging field of inquiry…..’



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EQ list Symposium February 24th, 2010 - Connecting Ideas and Knowledge Sharing on Equity and Health

de: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia WDC : ruglucia@paho.org
fecha: 16 de febrero de 2010 14:28
asunto: EQ list Symposium February 24th, 2010 - Connecting Ideas and Knowledge Sharing on Equity and Health


Connecting Ideas and Knowledge Sharing on Equity and Health

PAHO/WHO Symposium – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm February 24th, 2010
10th Anniversary of Equity and Health listserv
This symposium on health determinants and inequalities will be focused on the analysis of thematic trends and conceptual frameworks developed in the last 10 years and their policy implications. It also will address global methodological issues of measuring health inequalities and evaluating policy and program impact.
A draft of the agenda by topic is below. The names of some speakers and discussants TBC the final agenda will be sent before the meeting. The entire meeting will be web cast in order to reach a wide international audience of health equity researchers and advocates.
The format will be a short presentation on the subject of each panel 10-15 min max – Three/four discussants 5 to 10 min max. - Q&A 15 min max.from

Participants in person: PAHO Pan American Health Organization Regional Office of the World Health Organization
525 Twenty-third Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037, United States of America
Room A
Virtual participants via web:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=1110&password=M.A4FA308B5F1FA6CD60DB62C0137303
To participate in person or virtually please confirm you availability before February 22nd

This event is being organized by WHO, PAHO/WHO, and Kellogg Fellows
Resources collection: We are also updating the collection of resources on Equity, Health and Human Development, please post the best resources you have online – Links below or send by email to ruglucia@paho.org
Link to post your best resources on Health and/or Equity, Social Disparities and/or Social Determinants of Health
http://devserver.paho.org/equity/addentry.php

To browse posted resources: http://devserver.paho.org/equity/listEquity.php