Racial disparities in acute outcomes of life-threatening injury.
OBJECTIVE
To critically analyze racial and ethnic disparities in acute outcomes of life-threatening injury in the United States (US).


METHODS
Integrative review of literature.


METHODS
A search of Medline (1966-2005) and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; 1982-2002) scientific literature databases was undertaken to identify research aimed at correlating minority race and ethnicity to acute outcomes of life-threatening injury in the US.


RESULTS
Although injury is the leading cause of death for adults 15 to 44 years of age, racial and ethnic health disparities in acute outcomes of life-threatening injury have been relatively unexplored: only seven of 352 (2%) studies. The findings from these studies were mixed. Four studies indicated significant relationships between race or ethnicity to acute outcomes in injury morbidity and mortality, but three studies showed no significant relationships between these variables. Other variables associated with health disparities, such as income and education, were rarely (income) or not (education) addressed.


CONCLUSIONS
These inconclusive results indicate the need for more research aimed at investigating racial and ethnic disparities in acute outcomes of life-threatening injury.
NeSmith
Elizabeth G
EG
Medical College of Georgia, School of Nursing, Augusta 30912, USA. bnesmith@students.mcg.edu
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009017:Morbidity; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology