Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) Toolbox
Background
Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect health, well-being, and quality-of-life. SDOH can also contribute to disparities and inequities, and impact cancer care and outcomes. This toolbox contains information and materials to screen patients for and help address identified health-related social needs.
Definition
“Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.” (Healthy People 2030)
SDOH Domains Economic Stability:
The connection between the financial resources people have—income, cost of living, and socioeconomic status—and their health. This domain includes key issues such as poverty, employment, food security, and housing stability. (CDC, 2021)
In the United States, 1 in 10 people live in poverty and many can’t afford things like healthy foods, health care, and housing. (Healthy People 2030 Economic Stability)
Education Access and Quality:
The connection of education to health and wellbeing. This domain includes key issues such as graduating from high school, enrollment in higher education, educational attainment in general, language and literacy, and early childhood education and development. (CDC, 2021)
People with higher levels of education are more likely to be healthier and live longer. (Healthy People 2030 Education Access and Quality)
Health Care Access and Quality:
The connection between people’s access to and understanding of health services and their own health. This domain includes key issues such as access to healthcare, access to primary care, health insurance coverage, and health literacy. (CDC, 2021)
About 1 in 10 people in the United States don’t have health insurance. (Healthy People 2030 Healthcare Access and Quality)
Neighborhood and Built Environment:
The connection between where a person lives—housing, neighborhood, and environment—and their health and wellbeing. This includes topics like quality of housing, access to transportation, availability of healthy foods, air and water quality, and neighborhood crime and violence. (CDC, 2021)
Racial/ethnic minorities and people with low incomes are more likely to live in neighborhoods with high rates of violence, unsafe air or water, and other health and safety risks. (Healthy People 2030 Neighborhood and Built Environment)
Social and Community Context:
The connection between characteristics of the contexts in which people live, learn, work, and play, and their health and wellbeing. This includes topics like cohesion within a community, civic participation, discrimination, conditions in the workplace, and incarceration. (CDC, 2021)
Many people face challenges and dangers they can’t control—like unsafe neighborhoods, discrimination, or trouble affording the things they need. This can have a negative impact on health and safety throughout life. (Healthy People 2030 Social and Community Contex)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). About Social Determinants of Health. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/about.html#:~:text=Economic%20Stability,food%20security%2C%20and%20housing%20sta bility. US Department of
Health and Human Services. (2021). Healthy People 2030: Social Determinants of Health. Retrieved from: https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health