About this Research Topic
Emergency medicine is a critical field that serves as a frontline for healthcare delivery, especially for equity-deserving groups (EDGs) who often face significant barriers in accessing primary care. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated existing inequities within healthcare systems, leading to increased reliance on emergency departments (EDs) by these groups. This has been compounded by unprecedented levels of burnout among healthcare professionals and the challenges posed by underfunded and understaffed emergency services. Current research indicates that EDGs frequently report negative experiences in emergency care, such as inadequate treatment, stigmatization, and poor communication. These issues are further intensified by the strained conditions of emergency departments. Despite the recognition of these disparities, there remains a significant gap in understanding the full scope of health inequities in emergency care and the social determinants that influence these experiences. Addressing these gaps requires comprehensive research that explores the multifaceted nature of these disparities and develops effective interventions.
This research topic aims to advance the understanding of health disparities in emergency care for equity-deserving populations. It seeks to explore the interplay between social determinants of health and emergency care experiences at various levels, including patient, provider, institutional, and community. The research will focus on identifying and evaluating novel interventions that can address these disparities and promote equity in emergency care. Additionally, the topic aims to gather evidence on innovative medical education curricula and training that emphasize health advocacy, cultural competency, and the mitigation of unconscious bias.
To gather further insights in the realm of emergency medicine and health equity, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Evaluation of disparities in emergency care access, utilization, and quality.
- Exploration of under-researched areas among equity-deserving populations, such as Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.
- Innovative methodological approaches to studying health equity in emergency care, including mixed-methods and participatory action research.
- Perceptions of emergency care from multiple stakeholders, including patients, providers, and policymakers.
- Evaluation of health equity at the public and health policy levels.
- Synthesis of existing evidence related to health equity in emergency care.
- Research co-design and knowledge translation between emergency departments and community organizations.
- Evaluation of medical education initiatives focused on health advocacy and cultural competency.
This research topic aims to advance the understanding of health disparities in emergency care for equity-deserving populations. It seeks to explore the interplay between social determinants of health and emergency care experiences at various levels, including patient, provider, institutional, and community. The research will focus on identifying and evaluating novel interventions that can address these disparities and promote equity in emergency care. Additionally, the topic aims to gather evidence on innovative medical education curricula and training that emphasize health advocacy, cultural competency, and the mitigation of unconscious bias.
To gather further insights in the realm of emergency medicine and health equity, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Evaluation of disparities in emergency care access, utilization, and quality.
- Exploration of under-researched areas among equity-deserving populations, such as Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.
- Innovative methodological approaches to studying health equity in emergency care, including mixed-methods and participatory action research.
- Perceptions of emergency care from multiple stakeholders, including patients, providers, and policymakers.
- Evaluation of health equity at the public and health policy levels.
- Synthesis of existing evidence related to health equity in emergency care.
- Research co-design and knowledge translation between emergency departments and community organizations.
- Evaluation of medical education initiatives focused on health advocacy and cultural competency.
Keywords: Emergency Medicine, Equity-deserving Groups, Health Equity, Quality of Care, Patient Safety, Improve Patient Outcomes, Health Care Delivery, Health Policy, Health Justice, Education, disadvantaged, Historically excluded
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
