The Intersection of Social Determinants of Health on HIT and Patient Outcomes
Health literacy is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as, “the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health” (n.d.). The American Medical Association (AMA) defines health literacy as, “a constellation of skills, including the ability to perform basic reading and numerical tasks required to function in the health care environment” (Baker, 2006). These definitions highlight the importance of health literacy for both healthcare workers and patients.
Whether it is the ability to fully analyze and interpret a researched study, or to speak to patients in a way that gains their trust and develops their understanding, health literacy directly relates to patient care.
However, understanding the importance of health literacy does not directly correlate to effective health literacy, so how does health literacy impact patient outcomes? What barriers or social determinants might impact health literacy?
For this Discussion, reflect on your understanding of health literacy, health information technology, and health economics. Consider the impact of each of these topics and explore how they are related to patient care. You will also recommend strategies to overcome potential barriers as they relate to the topics.
References:
Baker, D. W. (2006). The meaning and measure of health literacy.
Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21(8), 878–883. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00540.x
World Health Organization. (n.d.).
Health promotion.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
· American Nurses Association. (2015).
Nursing informaticsLinks to an external site.
: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.).
· “Standard 5: Implementation” (pp. 73–74)
· “Standard 5a: Coordination of Activities” (p. 75)
· “Standard 6: Evaluation” (p. 78)
· “Standard 11: Communication” (p. 86)
· “Standard 12: Leadership” (pp. 87–88)
· “Standard 15: Resource Utilization” (p. 92)
· Bakken, S., & Dreisbach, C. (2022).
Informatics and data science perspective on Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a pathway to health equityLinks to an external site..
Nursing Outlook, 70, S77–S87.
· Cummins, M., Kennedy, R., McBride, S. & Carrington, J. (2021).
Policy priorities in nursing informatics: The American Academy of Nursing Informatics and Technology Expert Panel in 2020Links to an external site..
CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing,
39(3), 120–122.
· Johnson, C. B. (2024).
Nurse informaticists’ role in promoting health equityLinks to an external site..
Nursing,
54(5), 38–44.
· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, January 12).
Health equityLinks to an external site.
[Video]. YouTube.
· Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. (2021, November 15).
Nurses are chipping away at the layers of social determinants of healthLinks to an external site.
[Video]. YouTube.
· Palakshappa, D., Scheerer, M., Semelka, C. T., & Foley, K. L. (2020).
Screening for social determinants of health in free and charitable clinics in North CarolinaLinks to an external site..
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 31 (1), 382–397. doi:10.1353/hpu.2020.0029
To Prepare
· Review the Learning Resources associated with the topics: Health Literacy, Health Information Technology (HIT) on Patient Outcomes, and Health Economics.
· Consider the role of each of these topics in influencing how healthcare is delivered and practiced in your healthcare organization or nursing practice.
By Day 3 of Week 8
Post a cohesive response that addresses the following:
· What strategies do you recommend for addressing barriers and challenges associated with social determinants of health in nursing practice? How can nurses effectively use information technologies to support the delivery of equitable care to all patients?
By Day 6 of Week 8
Read a selection of your colleagues’ blog posts and
respond to
at least two of your colleagues on
two different days by expanding upon their responses or sharing additional or alternative perspectives.
Cha Be
The Intersection of Social Determinants of Health on HIT and Patient Outcomes
Addressing the barriers and challenges associated with social determinants of health (SDOH) in nursing practice requires a multifaceted approach grounded in both patient-centered care and systemic advocacy. Nurses are uniquely positioned to mitigate these barriers through assessment, intervention, and coordination of care. Strategies to address SDOH barriers would include routine screening and assessment, interprofessional collaboration and advocacy, and cultural competence and implicit bias training.
Nurses should incorporate standardized SDOH assessments during patient intake to identify issues such as housing instability, food insecurity, transportation needs, and health literacy (Fraze et al., 2020). These assessments allow for timely interventions and referrals to appropriate community resources. Nurses must collaborate with social workers, case managers, and community organizations to address social needs holistically. Additionally, nurses can advocate for policies that improve access to healthcare, affordable housing, and educational opportunities, which are core determinants of health equity (Andermann, 2018). Implementing ongoing education in cultural competence and addressing implicit bias helps ensure that care is respectful of and responsive to the cultural and social needs of diverse populations (Alvarez et al., 2022). These strategies promote trust and reduce disparities in patient outcomes.
Use of information technology would include electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth and mobile health tools, and data analytics. EHRs can be leveraged to document SDOH and trigger care coordination services. Integrated alerts and care plans can ensure that social needs are consistently addressed (Henrikson et al., 2020). Telehealth and mobile health tools help bridge geographic and transportation barriers, especially in underserved areas. Nurses can use telehealth to maintain follow-up care and provide education, thereby improving continuity and equity in care delivery (Zhou et al., 2022). Nurses can use data analytics to identify trends and disparities in patient populations. By analyzing outcomes based on SDOH, care teams can adjust interventions and resources to better target at-risk groups.
Incorporating these strategies into everyday nursing practice enables more equitable care delivery and empowers nurses to play a pivotal role in reducing health disparities.
References
Alvarez, C., Perzynski, A. T., Roach, M. J., & Cage, J. (2022). Reducing racial disparities in health care: The role of implicit bias training.
The American Journal of Nursing, 122(1), 36–45.
Fraze, T. K., Brewster, A. L., Lewis, V. A., Beidler, L. B., & Murray, G. F. (2020). Prevalence of screening for food insecurity, housing instability, utility needs, transportation needs, and interpersonal violence by US health care organizations.
JAMA Network Open, 2(9), e1911514.
Henrikson, N. B., Blasi, P. R., Dorsey, C. N., Mettert, K. D., Nguyen, M. B., Walsh-Bailey, C., & Lewis, C. C. (2020). Psychometric and pragmatic properties of social risk screening tools: A systematic review.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 58(6), 887–898.
Zhou, X., Snoswell, C. L., Harding, L. E., Bambling, M., Edirippulige, S., Bai, X., & Smith, A. C. (2022). The role of telehealth in reducing health disparities in rural populations: A systematic review.
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 28(2), 89–106.
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Reply from Michelle Oxendine
To address barriers and challenges related to social determinants of health (SDOH) in nursing practice, it is essential for nurses to adopt a holistic, patient-centered approach that includes both advocacy and culturally competent care. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources at global, national, and local levels, and are primarily responsible for health inequities the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries. As a result, one of Healthy People 2030’s five overarching goals is specifically related to SDOH (Rajwal et al., 2025). Strategies include comprehensive assessments that go beyond clinical symptoms to explore factors such as housing stability, food security, education, employment, and access to transportation. Nurses can then collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including social workers and community health workers, to connect patients with appropriate resources and support systems. Education and training in cultural humility and implicit bias can further enhance nurses ability to build trust and deliver sensitive care, especially in underserved communities. The social and community context determinant of health emphasizes how people are living and working affects their well-being (Rajwal et al., 2025).
Information technologies play a critical role in supporting equitable care delivery by enhancing communication, tracking outcomes, and identifying health disparities. Electronic health records (EHRs) can be used to document SDOH and flag high-risk patients for early intervention. Telehealth platforms improve access to care for individuals in remote or resource-limited areas, while mobile health apps can promote patient engagement and self-management. Nurses can also use data analytics tools to monitor trends and outcomes across diverse populations, enabling more targeted interventions and policy development. By integrating these technologies thoughtfully, nurses can bridge gaps in care and promote health equity across all patient populations.
References:
Ding, K., Ruksakulpiwat, S., Wang, Y., & Voss, J. G. (2025). The effects of residential segregation on cognition among US older adults: a systematic review based on the social determinants of health model.
Aging & mental health,
29(1), 4-12.
Rajwal, S., Zhang, Z., Chen, Y., Rogers, H., Sarker, A., & Xiao, Y. (2025). Applications of Natural Language Processing and Large Language Models for Social Determinants of Health: Protocol for a Systematic Review.
JMIR Research Protocols,
14(1), e66094.
