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The inherent fallibility of validated screening tools for social determinants of health

A. Garg, R.C. Sheldrick , P.H. Dworkin
Acad Pediatr

Addressing the social and living circumstances of children and families has been a central tenet of pediatrics since its inception. Consistent with this, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) became the first medical organization to recommend that health care providers screen for social determinants of health (i.e., social circumstances in which people live and work) during patient encounters. In 2016, a subgroup of the Academic Pediatric Association (APA) Task Force on Child Poverty published a guide for clinicians on social determinants of health screening. Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a screening tool for health-related social needs as part of their Accountable Health Communities Model. In view of the increasing support for such screening within the delivery of medical care and its potential for reducing health disparities, clinicians and health policy makers should be aware of the inherent limitations of using validated screening tools for social determinants of health.

Garg A, Sheldrick RC, Dworkin PH. The inherent fallibility of validated screening tools for social determinants of health. Acad Pediatr. 2017;18(2):123-124. PMID: 29274399. DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2017.12.006.

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Commentaries & Blogs
Screening research
Yes