Using Causal Diagrams to Study and Eliminate Racial Health Disparities
Chanelle J. Howe, PhD
Associate Professor | Department of Epidemiology | Brown University School of Public Health
Where: Virtual |
Abstract
Causal diagrams have been extensively used by epidemiologists to study population health. However, historically there has been a lack of clarity regarding how best to use causal diagrams to study and eliminate racial health disparities that have persisted in the United States (U.S.). This talk will: (1) provide recommendations for using causal diagrams to study and eliminate U.S.-based racial health disparities; (2) discuss the benefits of these recommendations; and (3) demonstrate implementation of these recommendations.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the difference between a health difference and a health disparity
- Understand that race is a social construct, rather than a biological variable, and how race can be incorporated into a causal diagram
- Understand how to depict mechanisms of racism as multilevel determinants of health in a causal diagram
Speaker Bio
Dr. Chanelle Howe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology within the Brown University School of Public Health. She serves as the Director of the Epidemiology Doctoral Program at Brown as well as an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Epidemiology. Dr. Howe's research interests include study design, quantitative methods, causal inference, infectious diseases, and health disparities.
Presented as part of the Epidemiology Seminar Series
The Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health Seminar Series is a self-approved Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the maintenance of certification program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
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