In July, ACSM published a new pronouncement titled, “Intentional Examination of the Social Determinants of Health in Clinical Practice and Research: An ACSM Call to Action Statement” in the Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (TJACSM). The statement was chaired by Tamerah N. Hunt, PhD, ATC, FACSM, with additional members of the writing group; Carolina Quintana PhD, ATC, Christina Master, MD, FACSM, Melissa Kossman, PhD, Zachary Winkelmann, PhD, ATC, and Erica Taylor, PhD, FACSM.
Call to Action statements are official pronouncements of the College and represent ACSM’s stance on the topic at hand. These statements direct attention to a current scientific/clinical challenge or need and highlight a series of actions that can be taken to address the identified challenge. The intent of this document is to provide a mechanism by which the College can make a concise, clear comment and provide action-oriented direction in a timely and efficient manner on evolving topics of high importance or with broad impact. This statement was developed using a blend of research evidence and consensus of expert opinion. Further, the paper underwent a rigorous review and approval process.
The new statement, “Intentional Examination of the Social Determinants of Health in Clinical Practice and Research: An ACSM Call to Action Statement” addresses how the intentional examination of social determinants of health (SDoH) drives the clinical and research standard in sports medicine to consider people, not solely problems. Within the paper, insight into how SDoH can impact every aspect of life globally, and how SDoH can negatively impact sports medicine research (limited access to biomechanical testing or hi-tech research protocols), clinical care (limited appointment scheduling and culturally applicable interventions), and administration (limited representation during sports medicine policy formation and implementation) are discussed.
“Health, research, and advocacy do not start in the clinic, lab or workplace, they begin where people live, learn, work, and play,” said Dr. Hunt. “This ACSM Call to Action challenges the field to move beyond awareness and into intentional action, embedding SDoH into research, education, and decision making to drive meaningful, equitable improvements in sports medicine.”
The statement provides information on definitions and domains for SDoH. Along with action items and strategies for:
- Research
- Clinical care
- Administration
Supplemental content of the paper includes resources and pillars on how to include SDoH in decision-making, learning about the community and population, and investigating with intentionality and empathy.
The paper is freely available to read and download on the ACSM website. For more information on ACSM’s pronouncements and to view ACSM’s additional official statements, visit the ACSM pronouncements page.
