Development of a dynamic model to guide health disparities research

Various populations experience health disparities related to risk factors such as gender, race or ethnicity, educational level, income level, and geographic location. These populations often experience barriers to access and utilization of services, which can lead to adverse health outcomes. Health promotion interventions developed within the context of communities represent resources that may offer protection to these populations. The purpose of this article is to describe the evolution of a conceptual model for the study of health disparities. The model, based on a review of literature, was developed to guide 19 pilot studies funded by the Texas-New Mexico P20 Southwest Partnership Center for Nursing Research on Health Disparities. Reflection on these studies, their respective methodologies, and findings resulted in a revised model to guide further studies of communities experiencing health disparities.