Health equity: A concept analysis

Chrystal L Lewis; Alice Yan; Michelle Y Williams; Lynette V Apen; Cecelia L Crawford; Lisa Morse; Anna M Valdez; G Rumay Alexander; Ernest Grant; Claire Valderama-Wallace; Dale Beatty

doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102032

Health equity: A concept analysis

Nurs Outlook. 2023 Sep-Oct;71(5):102032. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102032. Epub 2023 Sep 6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Research and Health Equity, Stanford Health Care, Menlo Park, CA. Electronic address: CLewis@stanfordhealthcare.org.
² Department of Research and Health Equity, Stanford Health Care, Menlo Park, CA.
³ Department of Research and Health Equity, Stanford Health Care, Menlo Park, CA; Division of Primary Care and Population Health and Nursing Research Section, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA.
⁴ Department of Nursing, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA.
⁵ School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
⁶ Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC.
⁷ Department of Nursing, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA.
⁸ Executive Administration, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, CA.

PMID: 37683597
DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102032

Abstract

Background: Although health equity is critically important for healthcare delivery, there are inconsistencies in its definitions or lack of definitions.

Purpose: Develop a comprehensive understanding of health equity to guide nursing practice and healthcare policy.

Method: Walker and Avant's concept analysis method was used to establish defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents of health equity.

Findings: Health equity defining attributes are grounded in ethical principles, the absence of unfair and avoidable differences, and fair and just opportunities to attain a person's full health potential. Health equity antecedents are categorized into environmental; financial or economic; law, politics, and policy; societal and structural; research; and digital and technology.

Discussion: Health equity's antecedents are useful to distinguish health disparities from health outcomes resulting from individual preferences. To achieve health equity, organizations need to focus on addressing the antecedents.

Keywords: Concept analysis; Health care organization; Health care system; Health equity; Payor; Policymaker.

MeSH terms

Concept Formation
Health Equity*
Health Policy
Humans