Health Disparities Among Vulnerable Populations

Abstract

Nursing Research has made a significant contribution in disseminating the body of tested knowledge related to the health disparities experienced by vulnerable populations and the methodologies associated with vulnerable populations research. Areas for future research are community-based studies, intervention studies that provide tangible resources, and methodologic approaches that involve participants in the research process.

Doing My Best: Poverty and Self-Care Among Individuals With Schizophrenia and Diabetes Mellitus

“…Limited research has been conducted to elucidate patients' perspectives on living with material deprivation while attempting to engage in consistent and effective self-care for chronic mental and physical illnesses. Researchers in a variety of disciplines, including nursing, public health, and sociology, have emphasized the value of lay knowledge in understanding the social context of health and illness as well as the lived experience of social factors that contribute to health disparities and inequitable access to health care (Flaskerud et al, 2002;Gilson, 1998;Popay, Williams, Thomas, & Gatrell, 1998). In addition, interventions and programs are needed at the community level to reduce or eliminate health disparities (Baker, Metzler, & Galea, 2005;Koniak-Griffin, Flaskerud, & Nyamathi, 2005;Syme, Lefkowitz, & Krimgold, 2002).…”

Development of Nursing Theory and Science in Vulnerable Populations Research

“…Although vulnerable populations have been a focus in nursing research for over 50 years (Flaskerud et aL, 2002), the theoretical foundation for studies has been varied and often drawn from other fields such as psychology, medicine, sociology, and public health. Most popular among the theoretical frameworks guiding studies involving vulnerable populations are social cognitive theory, the theory of reasoned action, and the health beliefs model.…”

“…Vulnerable populations nursing research has been galvanized by the current social, political, and economic climate calling for reductions in health disparity (Flaskerud et al, 2002). The NIH mission-including the strategic plans of NIH institutes, the IOM report, and various other governmental initiatives-provides social and political impetus to study vulnerable populations.…”

“…Some of these studies concluded with calls for community action to rectify inequalities, with respect to the provision of resources, for vulnerable groups. However, despite the fact that studies highlighted health disparities among vulnerable populations, the focus of the Division of Nursing was on nursing manpower, productivity, and utilization, and not on vulnerable populations research (Flaskerud et al, 2002). In the mid-1980s, progress in the field of vulnerable populations research was made, even with the major focus of funding agencies and of nursing scholars on clinical research; for example, different methods used to study vulnerable groups (i.e., focused interviews and participant observation) and new ways to characterize vulnerable populations (i.e., African Americans, Whites, social class designation, economic status) were developed.…”

“…During this decade, there were some published studies that looked at socioeconomic status and ethnicity. Some of these studies were descriptive trials that examined particular vulnerable groups and their cultures, psychosocial attitudes, beliefs, and practices (Flaskerud et al, 2002).…”