Social determinants of health: A review of publicly available indices

Abstract

In recent years, the number of publicly available tools and indices assessing social determinants of health (SDOH) has grown exponentially. While many of these indices have been developed to assist researchers and practitioners with identifying vulnerable communities, it is difficult to determine the most appropriate measure, index, or combination of indices to use given the research question of interest. This paper presents an overview of the most commonly included indices, highlights commonalities, and identifies some differences in what they measure. We also discuss challenges with using these measures, including the use of state level data to examine local level issues and how the use of atheoretical indices challenges the application of SDOH measurement. Findings are intended to provide researchers and practitioners with information about SDOH data available through these common indices to inform how they are applied based on the needs of their work.