Social Determinants of Health: Why is it important?

Social determinants of health (SDoH) are conditions that a person is born into, lives in, and engages in that may determine a person’s health. These conditions can include the environment, economic stability, education, access to health care, and social and community context.  SDoH are important factors to properly diagnosis neurological health conditions and to properly restore and establish skills to facilitate occupational engagement. For instance, a person with little economic stability and no access to health care may ignore a headache that has persisted for days and convince themselves that the headache is only a temporary coincidence. This may lead to severe damage to the nervous system due to negligence. Since the person does not have access to health care, they may choose pain over the financial burden. The community must create programs to bridge the gap. Where can we start to change this disparity? We can start by educating ourselves. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) is taking action by requiring students to complete development hours in 3 categories: public service, professional development, and leadership and advocacy. These hours help future practitioners engage with a variety of communities they will serve while also advocating for the profession. Development hours also allow the student to grow professionally, giving them the necessary tools to succeed. It instills leadership qualities that ignite an “act first” attitude, allowing future practitioners to look for the root of the problem, not the withered leaves. This initiative develops practitioners that will promote equity over equality because some people need a little more to enjoy the same experience.