Abstract
Background
In 2002–2003, a Needs, Gaps and Opportunities Assessment (NGOA) was conducted to investigate relationships between socio-economic dimensions of housing and health. Recent reviews of the literature point to a dearth of research on the socioeconomic dimensions of housing and health, despite its potential for promoting health.
Methods
The NGOA sought to identify research needs and gaps, and future opportunities for research in housing, socio-economic status and health. The methods used included a literature scan, a scan of research capacity, eight regional stakeholder workshops across Canada, and an open-ended e-mail survey of stakeholders. In this paper, we report the findings of the stakeholder consultations.
Findings
The main finding of the NGOA was that there is a significant dearth of research on housing as a socio-economic determinant of health but enormous potential for conducting high-impact, longitudinal and quasi-experimental research in the area. Of particular interest to stakeholder participants in the NGOA were the economic aspects of housing and health; the impact of housing on health for vulnerable subgroups (e.g., Aboriginal peoples, immigrants, children, seniors); the role of socio-economically and ethnically mixed communities; and the interaction between socio-economic aspects of housing and biophysical hazards in the home.
Conclusion
The NGOA demonstrated that there is a substantial audience eager for knowledge on housing as a socio-economic determinant of health and that such knowledge could make an immediate impact on policy decision-making and program operation. Although knowledge gaps are substantial, the NGOA clearly identifies opportunities for high-impact, longitudinal and quasi-experimental research. Recently signed federal-provincial funding agreements for housing make the findings of the NGOA timely. Moreover, the NGOA results demonstrate how research on housing as a socio-economic determinant of health could be a strategy for improving our understanding of the effects of social environments on health and for reducing health disparities.
Electronic Supplementary Material
Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/BF03405392 and is accessible for authorized users.
MeSH terms: Housing, public housing, housing for the elderly, health, mental health, socio-economic factors
Résumé
Contexte
En 2002–2003, une évaluation des besoins, des lacunes et des possibilités (EBLP) de recherche a été entreprise dans le but d’étudier les rapports entre les dimensions socio-économiques du logement et la santé. Des examens récents de la documentation publiée à ce sujet ont révélé les carences de la recherche sur les dimensions socio-économiques du logement et la santé, malgré le potentiel de cette recherche pour la promotion de la santé.
Méthodes
L’EBLP a cherché à cerner les besoins et les lacunes en recherche ainsi que les possibilités de recherche futures sur le logement, la condition socio-économique et la santé. Les méthodes utilisées ont compris un examen de la documentation publiée, une évaluation de la capacité de recherche, l’organisation de huit ateliers régionaux pour les intervenants de tout le Canada ainsi qu’un sondage courriel à questions ouvertes auprès des intervenants. Dans le présent rapport, nous rendons compte des constatations de nos consultations auprès des intervenants.
Résultats
La principale constatation de l’EBLP a trait aux carences majeures de la recherche sur le logement en tant que déterminant socio-économique de la santé, mais aussi aux possibilités énormes de recherche longitudinale et quasi-expérimentale à impact élevé dans ce domaine. Les intervenants qui ont pris part à l’EBLP s’intéressent particulièrement aux aspects économiques du logement et à la santé; à l’impact du logement sur la santé des sous-groupes vulnérables (p. ex. Autochtones, immigrants, enfants, personnes âgées); à l’impact des communautés diversifiées sur le plan ethnique et socio-économique; ainsi qu’à l’interaction entre les aspects socio-économiques du logement et ses dangers biophysiques.
Conclusion
L’EBLP a démontré le manque de connaissances flagrant sur le logement en tant que déterminant socio-économique de la santé ainsi que l’impact immédiat que pourraient avoir ces connaissances sur l’orientation stratégique et le fonctionnement des programmes. Malgré la pauvreté des connaissances, l’EBLP identifie clairement des possibilités de recherche longitudinale et quasi-expérimentale à impact élevé dans ce domaine. La signature récente d’ententes de financement fédérales-provinciales en matière de logement ajoute au caractère opportun des constatations de l’EBLP. De plus, les résultats de l’EBLP démontrent comment la recherche sur le logement en tant que déterminant socio-économique de la santé pourrait servir de stratégie pour mieux comprendre les effets du milieu social sur la santé et pour réduire les disparités sur le plan de la santé.
Termes MeSH: logement, logement public, logement pour personnes âgées, santé, santé mentale, facteurs socio-économiques
French language version/Version en Français
Le logement en tant que déterminant socio-économique de la santé: Résultats d’une évaluation des besoins, des lacunes et des possibilités (EBLP) de recherche à l’échelle nationale
Footnotes
Correspondance et demandes de réimpression: Dr James R. Dunn, Centre for Research in Inner City Health, Hôpital St. Michael’s, 30, rue Bond, Toronto, ON M5B 1 W8
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