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Systematic reviews and other evidence synthesis projects

Equity Overview

Equity and Health Equity Overview

How do we define it?

  • Fair and just opportunities that meet people where they are 
  • Treating people according to their circumstances 
  • Everyone has the opportunity to attain their highest level of health

How does health equity manifest itself into society?

  • Health seminars and courses that are specific to the needs of certain ethnic communities and racial groups
  • Low-cost services to those living in a low income household 
  • Better education, testing, and treatment access to communities particularly impacted by certain conditions or diseases 

Purpose

Purpose of Health Equity in Systematic Review Process

Steps of planning phase

Formulating the review question

  • Thinking about how the review or research question affects various populations
  • Explicitly reporting the purpose of intervention
  • Considering aspects of life that may impact your information

Developing a review protocol

  • Documenting intentions for intervention 

Steps of searching phase (literature)

Search strategy

  • Thinking about how search strings can highlight groups that benefit from health equity
  • Being intentional with certain words that surface targeted topics and specified groups

Systematically search databases/grey literature 

  • Using specified search terminology to explicitly obtain desired groups
  • Searching literature that does not fall under major publishing and exploring new options for information that include and highlight diverse voices and experiences

Study review, selection, and information synthesis phase

Select studies

  • Documenting the points that influence equitable decisions

Extract and Synthesize data

  • Using the standards of PROGRESS(+)

Review composition phase

Writing the review

  • Including the populations that are predominant, targeted, lacking, and not included
  • Having a summary that outlines the "equitable limitations" and the hope for further investigation

PROGRESS(+)

What is PROGRESS(+)?

Characteristics of research to take into account as part of an equitable approach for assessment. This acronym elements are:

P Place of residence
R Race and Ethnicity
O Occupation
G Gender
R Religion
E Education
S Social capital
S Socioeconomic position
PLUS Age
PLUS Disability
PLUS Sexual Orientation
PLUS Others
The PLUS(+) portion of PROGRESS takes into account other elements of life that serve as ethical considerations when discussing or writing about various health topics and impacts. READ MORE HERE

Impacts and Influences

Impacts and Influences

What are the effects of this practice?

  • Disadvantaged populations are prioritized and highlighted for means of intervention
  • Addresses the health social gradient
  • Impacts the research process and gives rise to 

What is the role of the library?

  • The library serves as another resource of support
  • Can serve in an advocacy role for research practices

 

Guide Design Credit

All elements of equity included in the process of reviews were created and edited by

Dev Wilder UW MLIS Candidate 2023