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Researchers from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and Arnold School of Public Health recently conducted a study to determine what factors may interfere with patients completing SDoH screenings with their primary care providers.
Though more and more health systems have recognized the impacts of nonclinical factors, such as food, housing, and transportation, on health outcomes, there are still barriers to conducting necessary SDoH screenings to address those social needs, which this study, published by JAMA Network Open, sought to identify.
“Health systems are increasingly engaging in SDoH screening,” wrote the researchers. “Although such screening can potentially improve health outcomes and reduce health care use, there is limited peer-reviewed evidence incorporating patient and clinician or care team characteristics and perspectives when describing early screening initiatives. Given the personal nature and limited evidence guiding SDoH screening adoption, it is critical to understand stakeholder perspectives.”