Social Determinants of Health in Surgery

Social determinants of health (SDoH) play a significant role in shaping surgical outcomes. While advances in surgical techniques and technology have improved surgical outcomes, disparities in surgical care persist, with disadvantaged groups experiencing worse outcomes than their advantaged counterparts. This chapter examines the impact of SDoH on surgical outcomes, the mechanisms through which SDoH affect health outcomes, and interventions to address SDoH-related disparities in surgical care. Studies have shown that race and ethnicity, insurance status, income, education, and housing impact surgical outcomes. The mechanisms through which SDoH affects surgical outcomes include differences in access to healthcare, differences in the quality of care, and biases in clinical decision-making. Interventions to address SDoH-related disparities in surgical care include improving access to care, addressing biases in clinical decision-making, and improving the quality of care. Recognizing the role of SDoH in surgical outcomes and implementing interventions to address SDoH-related disparities in surgical care can improve health outcomes for disadvantaged groups and reduce healthcare disparities.