Education is another example of SDH's influence on health and well-being. In 2006, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health showed that adults with less education than a high school diploma were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those with a bachelor's degree. The mechanism of social determinants affecting health outcomes is not completely clear, which is the subject of research and investigation. Obviously, they play a far-reaching role in health outcomes: according to the data of the World Health Organization, as many as 55% of health outcomes can be decided by SDH.
? How to understand that premedical students can expand their knowledge of SDH in many ways, including university courses or books and articles on the subject. This should be supplemented by real-world experience, which can help you better understand the social obstacles that some patients face every day.
Volunteering in organizations that provide social support to needy communities is a good way to understand some challenges that affect patients' daily lives. A former student volunteered to join a non-profit organization, which helps families get healthy food at affordable prices. This experience made her deeply understand many difficulties and countless adverse health consequences that most people face in obtaining healthy nutrition.
Volunteer work in clinical environment, especially involving low-income patients, is also a good way to understand the influence of SDH on patients. If you find patients who are willing to talk to you, please sit down with them and listen to their life stories. Try to find out the factors that may make it difficult for them to get the medical services they need.
? How to Discuss the Application of Pre-med Students One of the mistakes made by medical applicants is to assume that as future doctors, they can alleviate many non-medical obstacles that prevent patients from obtaining health by themselves. This assumption is naive, because many factors are complex and have profound systemic reasons. If you admit the complexity of these problems, you will get more information in your medical school application.
In the interview or thesis, the purpose is to show the medical school that when you expand your medical knowledge during the whole training period and later, you will strive to build your SDH knowledge and provide better care for your future patients. If you show medical college that you are eager to solve these challenges, and you realize that they require teamwork and long-term commitment, it also looks great.