Photo credit: www.sciencedaily.com
New Insights into Neighborhood Impact on Health Outcomes for Spinal Cord Injury Patients
Researchers at the Kessler Foundation have carried out a significant study focusing on the economic factors within neighborhoods and their influence on health outcomes among individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). The findings indicate that those residing in economically disadvantaged areas face an increased likelihood of experiencing negative health consequences, underscoring the necessity for public policy reform aimed at mitigating environmental inequalities.
The investigative team formulated and validated two composite measures: neighborhood socioeconomic status and socioeconomic disadvantage. This was accomplished by analyzing data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey in conjunction with data from the national Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems database.
The comprehensive article titled “Development of Composite Measures of Neighborhood Economic Factors for Use in Spinal Cord Injury Outcomes Studies: A Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Database Study” appears in the November 2024 edition of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The authors from the Foundation—Amanda L. Botticello, PhD, MPH; Lauren Murphy, PhD; and Anthony Lequerica, PhD—collaborated with researchers from affiliated institutions.
Dr. Amanda Botticello, the lead author and principal investigator, states, “These measures mark a significant step forward in examining the social determinants of health in SCI research. They present essential tools for future studies, advocating for the inclusion of neighborhood indicators as a standard practice in rehabilitation outcome assessments.” Botticello, who serves as the associate director at the Foundation’s Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research, further explains that “our research emphasizes the critical role of environmental factors in shaping health, community integration, and the emergence of disparities in health outcomes over time. This knowledge can inform targeted interventions aimed at enhancing the quality of life for individuals affected by SCI.”
This important research received funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), under Grant #90SIMS0021.
Source
www.sciencedaily.com