American College of Epidemiology 10th annual scientific meeting. Disparities in health between minorities and nonminorities. Recommendations for future research and action.
As a nation, we must accept and appreciate the fact of the racial and cultural diversity that characterizes America. Such diversity dictates that fundamental approaches and solutions to social problems, including health, need to be specific to local areas. From addressing health problems, the least controversial of social challenges, a degree of mutual respect can evolve that permits other issues to be addressed as well. Resolving health problems will require a coordinated effort of local, city, state and federal resources, both medical and non-medical. In addressing such problems, three important principles need to be embraced: 1) the development of a surveillance system to measure the problem and assess progress in terms of ultimate outcomes; 2) the continuing use of surveillance data to assess and modify strategy and to allocate resources as needed; and 3) the need in health programs in particular to assign far higher priority to "consumer satisfaction."
Henderson
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Office of Science and Technology Policy, Washington, DC 20506.
D003258:Consumer Behavior; D006285:Health Planning; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014481:United States