Social Determinants of Health: Considerations for Athletic Health Care

Abstract

Health disparities are prevalent issues in the United States and a frequent topic of conversation in the public health realm. Causes of health disparities include social inequities and social determinants of health. Although social determinants of health have been suggested to contribute more to individual and population health than the health care provided, this concept in athletic health care has received little attention. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to describe social determinants of health, present examples of social determinants, and discuss awareness of actionable steps for the athletic training profession to be more culturally proficient. By increasing awareness of and acknowledging social determinants of health, athletic trainers will be positioned to improve patient outcomes more readily and contribute to ongoing conversations at the policy level of health care.