Department of Planning, Public Policy, and Management, University of Oregon, Eugene, USA.
Health Aff (Millwood). 2008 Sep-Oct;27(5):1442-53. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.27.5.1442.
In this paper we explore whether increasing individuals' activation (self-management) levels could hold potential for reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health. A causal model is posited that assumes that social-environmental factors influence activation levels, which in turn influence health outcomes. Relationships are examined separately for whites and African Americans, and findings are supportive of the model for both groups. Simulations of what would happen to outcomes if there were racial parity in activation predict a narrowing of the racial gap in health and behavior. The findings suggest that a focus on increasing activation holds potential for addressing racial and ethnic disparities in health.
本文探讨了提高个体的激活（自我管理）水平是否有可能降低健康方面的种族和民族差异。提出了一个因果模型，假设社会环境因素影响激活水平，而激活水平又反过来影响健康结果。分别检验了白人和非裔美国人的关系，结果支持了这两个群体的模型。如果在激活方面实现种族平等，对结果会发生什么情况进行模拟，预测健康和行为方面的种族差距将会缩小。研究结果表明，关注提高激活水平有可能解决健康方面的种族和民族差异问题。
