Unpacking the Public Health Triad of Social Inequality in Health, Health Literacy, and Quality of Life—A Scoping Review of Research Characteristics
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Published:2023-12-27
Issue:1
Volume:21
Page:36
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ISSN:1660-4601
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Container-title:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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language:en
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Short-container-title:IJERPH
Author:
Holmen Heidi12ORCID, Flølo Tone13ORCID, Tørris Christine1ORCID, Løyland Borghild1ORCID, Almendingen Kari1ORCID, Bjørnnes Ann Kristin1ORCID, Albertini Früh Elena1ORCID, Grov Ellen Karine1, Helseth Sølvi1, Kvarme Lisbeth Gravdal1ORCID, Malambo Rosah1, Misvær Nina1, Rasalingam Anurajee1, Riiser Kirsti14, Sandbekken Ida Hellum1ORCID, Schippert Ana Carla1ORCID, Sparboe-Nilsen Bente15ORCID, Sundar Turid Kristin Bigum1, Sæterstrand Torill1, Utne Inger1, Valla Lisbeth16, Winger Anette1, Torbjørnsen Astrid1
Affiliation:
1. Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway 2. Intervention Centre, Oslo University Hospital, 4950 Oslo, Norway 3. Department of Surgery, Voss Hospital, Haukeland University Hospital, 5704 Voss, Norway 4. Department of Rehabilitation Science and Health Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway 5. Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 701 82 Örebro, Sweden 6. Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway (RBUP), 0484 Oslo, Norway
Abstract
Social inequalities in health, health literacy, and quality of life serve as distinct public health indicators, but it remains unclear how and to what extent they are applied and combined in the literature. Thus, the characteristics of the research have yet to be established, and we aim to identify and describe the characteristics of research that intersects social inequality in health, health literacy, and quality of life. We conducted a scoping review with systematic searches in ten databases. Studies applying any design in any population were eligible if social inequality in health, health literacy, and quality of life were combined. Citations were independently screened using Covidence. The search yielded 4111 citations, with 73 eligible reports. The reviewed research was mostly quantitative and aimed at patient populations in a community setting, with a scarcity of reports specifically defining and assessing social inequality in health, health literacy, and quality of life, and with only 2/73 citations providing a definition for all three. The published research combining social inequality in health, health literacy, and quality of life is heterogeneous regarding research designs, populations, contexts, and geography, where social inequality appears as a contextualizing variable.
Subject
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
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