Approaching social determinants of health in otolaryngology - head neck surgery: linking needs to resources to promote health equity

Social determinants of health influence patient outcomes across all otolaryngology specialties, necessitating collaborative efforts among healthcare teams to promote health equity. Health disparities permeate healthcare, creating inequities related to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, environment, access to healthcare, education, gender, and sexual orientation. These disparities impact the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of conditions such as chronic otitis media, obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis and allergies, hearing and balance disorders, head and neck cancer, and laryngeal or airway-related conditions such as subglottic stenosis, tracheostomy, and other laryngotracheal disorders. Recent updates in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid support capturing data on social determinants of health, which is the first step in linking patients to needed services and resources. Addressing these factors requires interprofessional collaboration involving nurses, providers, social workers, and other professionals, such as pharmacists, surgery schedulers, and community health workers. A holistic approach to otolaryngology considers social and economic factors alongside medical care, leading to positive outcomes in real-world settings, such as early hearing detection in underserved communities and nurse-led programs addressing sinusitis related to poor housing conditions. Other goals include improving digital health literacy, offering financial services, and identifying unmet needs. Ongoing research and the development of targeted educational programs are essential for reducing health disparities and improving care delivery in otolaryngology.