title: Issues and methods in disparities research: the Rhode Island-Puerto Rico asthma center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiologic studies have documented higher rates of asthma prevalence and morbidity in minority children compared to non-Latino white (NLW) children. Few studies focus on the mechanisms involved in explaining this disparity, and fewer still on the methodological challenges involved in rigorous disparities research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article provides an overview of challenges and potential solutions to research design for studies of health disparities. The methodological issues described in this article were framed on an empirical model of asthma health disparities that views disparities as resulting from several factors related to the healthcare system and the individual/community system. The methods used in the Rhode Island-Puerto Rico Asthma Center are provided as examples, illustrating the challenges in executing disparities research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several methods are described: distinguishing ethnic/racial differences from methodological artifacts, identifying and adapting culturally sensitive measures to explain disparities, and addressing the challenges involved in determining asthma and its severity in Latino and other minority children. The measures employed are framed within each of the components of the conceptual model presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding ethnic and/or cultural disparities in asthma morbidity is a complicated process. Methodologic approaches to studying the problem must reflect this complexity, allowing us to move from documenting disparities to understanding them, and ultimately to reducing them.
authors: Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico. glorisa.canino@upr.edu
authors: Glorisa
authors: G
authors: Canino
authors: Elizabeth L
authors: EL
authors: McQuaid
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Alvarez
authors: Angel
authors: A
authors: Colon
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Esteban
authors: Vivian
authors: V
authors: Febo
authors: Robert B
authors: RB
authors: Klein
authors: Daphne Koinis
authors: DK
authors: Mitchell
authors: Sheryl J
authors: SJ
authors: Kopel
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Montealegre
authors: Alexander N
authors: AN
authors: Ortega
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Rodriguez-Santana
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Seifer
authors: Gregory K
authors: GK
authors: Fritz
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000208:ethnology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D012237:Rhode Island