title: Minimizing disparities in surgical care: a research focus for the future.
abstract: The wide array of questions and opportunities for surgical health services research offers important prospects for inquiry into surgical disparities. In this essay we discuss research that directly or indirectly addresses disparities in surgery, highlighting the strengths and the future directions such research efforts intimate as potential foci of collective attention. We then consider possible research approaches-including community-based participatory models-for confronting disparity and the potential role of research in quality improvement to help achieve the ultimate aim, an optimal level of health care for all.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, 911 Broxton Avenue, Third Floor, Los Angeles, California 90024, USA. JRYOO@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Joan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ryoo
authors.forename: Clifford Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D005006:Ethnicity; D006302:Health Services Research; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States