Reducing ethnic disparities in the quality of trauma care: an important research gap.

OBJECTIVE

To identify interventions for reducing ethnic disparities in the quality of trauma care.

BACKGROUND

Variation in the quality of health care is recognized as an important contributor to ethnic disparities in many domains of health. Although recent articles document ethnic variations in the quality of trauma care in several countries, strategies that address these disparities have received little attention.

METHODS

Systematic review of intervention studies designed to reduce ethnic disparities in trauma care.

RESULTS

Our systematic literature review revealed no evaluations of interventions designed to reduce ethnic disparities in trauma care. A scan of the equivalent literature in other health care settings revealed 3 types of strategies that could serve as promising interventions that warrant further investigation in the trauma care setting: (1) improving cultural competency of service providers, (2) addressing the effects of health literacy on the quality of trauma care, and (3) quality improvement strategies that recognize equity as a key dimension of quality. The trauma coordinator role may help address some aspects relating to these themes although reducing disparities is likely to require broader system-wide policies.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation and robust evaluation of strategies designed to reduce ethnic disparities in trauma care are long overdue.