Improving Social Justice in COVID-19 Health Research: Interim Guidelines for Reporting Health Equity in Observational Studies

Alba Antequera, Daeria O. Lawson, Stephen G. Noorduyn, Omar Dewidar, Marc Avey, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Catherine Chamberlain, Holly Ellingwood, Damian Francis, Sarah Funnell, Elizabeth Ghogomu, Regina Greer-Smith, Tanya Horsley, Clara Juando-Prats, Janet Jull, Elizabeth Kristjansson, Julian Little, Stuart G. Nicholls, Miriam Nkangu, Mark Petticrew, Gabriel Rada, Anita Rizvi, Larissa Shamseer, Melissa K. Sharp, Janice Tufte, Peter Tugwell, Francisca Verdugo-Paiva, Harry Wang, Xiaoqin Wang, Lawrence Mbuagbaw and Vivian Welch
Additional contact information
Alba Antequera: Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
Daeria O. Lawson: Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
Stephen G. Noorduyn: Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
Omar Dewidar: Faculty of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada
Marc Avey: Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
Zulfiqar A. Bhutta: Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Catherine Chamberlain: School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
Holly Ellingwood: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Damian Francis: Center for Health and Social Issues, School of Health and Human Performance, Georgia College, Milledgville, GA 31061, USA
Sarah Funnell: Department of Family Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3G2, Canada
Elizabeth Ghogomu: Bruyère Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 5C8, Canada
Regina Greer-Smith: Healthcare Research Associates, LLC/The S.T.A.R. Initiative, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
Tanya Horsley: Faculty of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada
Clara Juando-Prats: Applied Health Research Center, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
Janet Jull: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Elizabeth Kristjansson: Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Julian Little: Faculty of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada
Stuart G. Nicholls: Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
Miriam Nkangu: Faculty of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada
Mark Petticrew: Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Gabriel Rada: Epistemonikos Foundation, Santiago 7510299, Chile
Anita Rizvi: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Larissa Shamseer: Knowledge Translation Program, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON M5B 1T8, Canada
Melissa K. Sharp: Health Research Board Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin DO2 H638, Ireland
Janice Tufte: Hassanah Consulting, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
Peter Tugwell: Faculty of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada
Francisca Verdugo-Paiva: Epistemonikos Foundation, Santiago 7510299, Chile
Harry Wang: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
Xiaoqin Wang: Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
Lawrence Mbuagbaw: Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
Vivian Welch: Faculty of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the global imperative to address health inequities. Observational studies are a valuable source of evidence for real-world effects and impacts of implementing COVID-19 policies on the redistribution of inequities. We assembled a diverse global multi-disciplinary team to develop interim guidance for improving transparency in reporting health equity in COVID-19 observational studies. We identified 14 areas in the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) checklist that need additional detail to encourage transparent reporting of health equity. We searched for examples of COVID-19 observational studies that analysed and reported health equity analysis across one or more social determinants of health. We engaged with Indigenous stakeholders and others groups experiencing health inequities to co-produce this guidance and to bring an intersectional lens. Taking health equity and social determinants of health into account contributes to the clinical and epidemiological understanding of the disease, identifying specific needs and supporting decision-making processes. Stakeholders are encouraged to consider using this guidance on observational research to help provide evidence to close the inequitable gaps in health outcomes.

Keywords: health inequities; observational studies; COVID-19; guidelines; reporting; public health; vulnerable populations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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