Health disparity knowledge and support for intervention in Saskatoon.
BACKGROUND
A number of reports suggest that we need to determine public understanding about the broad determinants of health and also determine public support for actions to reduce health disparities in Canada.


METHODS
A cross-sectional random survey of 5,000 Saskatoon residents was used to determine knowledge about health determinants and health disparity and then determine public support for various interventions to address health disparity.


RESULTS
Saskatoon residents understand most of the determinants of health except they understate the importance of social class and gender. Saskatoon residents do not have a good understanding of the magnitude of health disparity between income groups. A majority believe risk behaviours are mostly individual choices and are not associated with income status. Most residents believe even small differences in health status between income groups is unacceptable and a majority believe that something can be done to address health disparity by income status. Interventions proposed by residents to alleviate health disparity were evidence-based, including work-earning supplements and strengthening early intervention programs. Logistic regression revealed that greatest support for transferring money from health care treatment to health creation services (like affordable housing and education) came from young Aboriginal males with low income.


CONCLUSIONS
Saskatoon residents have knowledge of health determinants and have a strong desire to support health disparity intervention. More knowledge transfer is required on the magnitude of health disparity based on income status. Broad-based health disparity intervention in Saskatoon appears possible.
Lemstra
Mark
M
Saskatoon Health Region, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. mark.lemstra@saskatoonhealthregion.ca
Neudorf
Cory
C
Beaudin
Gary
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012525:Saskatchewan; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult