Definition Of Equity Research Articles

Operationalisation of health equity principles in physiotherapy hospital triage policies

BackgroundHealthcare triage policies are vital for allocating limited resources fairly and equitably. Despite extensive studies of healthcare equity, consensus on the applied definition of equity in triage remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate how the principles of equity are operationalised in Australian hospital physiotherapy triage tools to guide resource distribution.MethodsA retrospective, qualitative content analysis of 13 triage policies from 10 hospitals across Australia was conducted. Triage policies from both inpatient and outpatient settings were sourced. Data were coded deductively using the five discrete domains of the multi-faceted operational definition of health equity posited by Lane et al. (2017): 1) point of equalisation in the health service supply/access/outcome chain, 2) need or potential to benefit, 3) groupings of equalisation, 4) caveats to equalisation, 5) close enough is good enough. Descriptive summative statistics were used to analyse and present the frequency of reported equity domains.ResultsWithin the included triage tools, four out of five domains of equity were evident in the included documents to guide decision making. Allocation based on perceived patient need and overall health outcomes were the central guiding principles across both inpatient and outpatient settings. Equal provision of service relative to patient need and reducing wait times were also prioritised. However, explicit inclusion of certain equity domains such as discrimination, ensuring equal capability to be healthy and other patient factors was limited.ConclusionsPhysiotherapy triage policies consider various domains of equity to guide resource allocation decisions. Policymakers and service providers can use the insights gained from this study to review the application and operationalisation of equity principles within their healthcare systems through mechanisms such as patient triage tools.

Equity in Transportation Asset Management: A Proposed Framework

Transportation asset management has historically overlooked equity considerations. However, recently, there has been a significant increase in concerns about this issue, leading to a range of research and practices aimed at achieving more equitable outcomes. Yet, addressing equity is challenging and time-consuming, given its complexity and multifaceted nature. Several factors can significantly impact the outcome of an analysis, including the definition of equity, the evaluation and quantification of its impacts, and the community classification. As a result, there can be a wide range of interpretations of what constitutes equity. Therefore, there is no single correct or incorrect approach for equity evaluation, and different perspectives, impacts, and analysis methods could be considered for this purpose. This study reviews previous research on how transportation agencies are integrating equity into transportation asset management, particularly pavement management systems. The primary objective is to investigate important equity factors for pavement management and propose a prototype framework that integrates economic, environmental, and social equity considerations into the decision-making process for pavement maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction projects. The proposed framework consists of two main steps: (1) defining objectives based on the three equity dimensions, and (2) analyzing key factors for identifying underserved areas through a case study approach. The case study analyzed pavement condition and sociodemographic data for California’s Bay Area. Statistical analysis and a machine learning method revealed that areas with higher poverty rates and worse air quality tend to have poorer pavement conditions, highlighting the need to consider these factors when defining underserved areas in Bay Area and promoting equity in pavement management decision-making. The proposed framework incorporates an optimization problem to simultaneously minimize disparities in pavement conditions between underserved and other areas, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from construction and traffic disruptions, and maximize overall network pavement condition subject to budget constraints. By incorporating all three equity aspects into a quantitative decision-support framework with specific objectives, this study proposes a novel approach for transportation agencies to promote sustainable and equitable asset management practices.

Strategies and indicators to integrate health equity in health service and delivery systems in high-income countries: a scoping review.

The objective of this review was to describe how health service and delivery systems in high-income countries define and operationalize health equity. A secondary objective was to identify implementation strategies and indicators being used to integrate and measure health equity. To improve the health of populations, a population health and health equity approach is needed. To date, most work on health equity integration has focused on reducing health inequities within public health, health care delivery, or providers within a health system, but less is known about integration across the health service and delivery system. This review included academic and gray literature sources that described the definitions, frameworks, level of integration, strategies, and indicators that health service and delivery systems in high-income countries have used to describe, integrate, and/or measure health equity. Sources were excluded if they were not available in English (or a translation was not available), were published before 1986, focused on strategies that were not implemented, did not provide health equity indicators, or featured strategies that were implemented outside the health service or delivery systems (eg, community-based strategies). This review was conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility followed by a full-text review to determine inclusion. The information extracted from the included studies consisted of study design and key findings, such as health equity definitions, strategies, frameworks, level of integration, and indicators. Most data were quantitatively tabulated and presented according to 5 secondary review questions. Some findings (eg, definitions and indicators) were summarized using qualitative methods. Most findings were visually presented in charts and diagrams or presented in tabular format. Following review of 16,297 titles and abstracts and 824 full-text sources, we included 122 sources (108 scholarly and 14 gray literature) in this scoping review. We found that health equity was inconsistently defined and operationalized. Only 17 sources included definitions of health equity, and we found that both indicators and strategies lacked adequate descriptions. The use of health equity frameworks was limited and, where present, there was little consistency or agreement in their use. We found that strategies were often specific to programs, services, or clinics, rather than broadly applied across health service and delivery systems. Our findings suggest that strategies to advance health equity work are siloed within health service and delivery systems, and are not currently being implemented system-wide (ie, across all health settings). Healthy equity definitions and frameworks are varied in the included sources, and indicators for health equity are variable and inconsistently measured. Health equity integration needs to be prioritized within and across health service and delivery systems. There is also a need for system-wide strategies to promote health equity, alongside robust accountability mechanisms for measuring health equity. This is necessary to ensure that an integrated, whole-system approach can be consistently applied in health service and delivery systems internationally. DalSpace dalspace.library.dal.ca/handle/10222/80835.

Equity in family planning policies and programs in Uganda: conceptualization, dimensions and implementation constraints

BackgroundEquity is at the core and a fundamental principle of achieving the family planning (FP) 2030 Agenda. However, the conceptualization, definition, and measurement of equity remain inconsistent and unclear in many FP programs and policies. This paper aims to document the conceptualization, dimensions and implementation constraints of equity in FP policies and programs in Uganda.MethodsA review of Ugandan literature and key informant interviews with 25 key stakeholders on equity in FP was undertaken between April and July 2020. We searched Google, Google Scholar and PubMed for published and grey literature from Uganda on equity in FP. A total of 112 documents were identified, 25 met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Data from the selected documents were extracted into a Google master matrix in MS Excel. Data analysis was done across the thematic areas by collating similar information. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis approach.ResultsA limited number of documents had an explicit definition of equity, which varied across documents and stakeholders. The definitions revolved around universal access to FP information and services. There was a limited focus on equity in FP programs in Uganda. The dimensions most commonly used to assess equity were either geographical location, or socio-demographics, or wealth quintile. Almost all the key informants noted that equity is a very important element, which needs to be part of FP programming. However, implementation constraints (e.g. lack of quality comprehensive FP services, duplicated FP programs and a generic design of FP programs with limited targeting of the underserved populations) continue to hinder effective implementation of equitable FP programs in Uganda. Clients’ constraints (e.g. limited contraceptive information) and policy constraints (inadequate focus on equity in policy documents) also remain key challenges.ConclusionsThere is lack of a common understanding and definition of equity in FP programs in Uganda. There is need to build consensus on the definitions and measurements of equity with a multidimensional lens to inform clear policy and programming focus on equity in FP programs and outcomes. To improve equitable access to and use of FP services, attention must be paid to addressing implementation, client and policy constraints.

FINDABILITY OF HEALTH EQUITY DEFINITIONS ON REPUTABLE AGING AND PUBLIC HEALTH WEBSITES

Abstract In the current era of electronic health information, ensuring proper access to consistent and accurate information supporting health equity is crucial for older adults. It is imperative that older adults comprehend health terminologies and definitions on websites, enabling them to understand the necessary information effectively. To evaluate how public health websites define, communicate, and display health equity terms and definitions, we developed a tool to review how easy it is to find and understand information on websites that play an integral role in guiding the health of older adults. Thus, we reviewed over 60 credible websites widely used for health information. Many of them included dedicated aging content. Our evaluation revealed that health equity definitions were inconsistent across websites and were often challenging to locate, requiring substantial time and effort to retrieve the information. Additionally, 50% of them lacked definitions. Furthermore, most websites failed to include citations that could substantiate the provided definitions. This study underscores the absence of a systematic, standardized, and regulated approach to how public health websites inform the public, particularly by using consistent terms to define health equity. This study highlights the lack of a universally shared and standardized health equity definition for websites. We recommend that websites structure their content to be easily findable and propose adopting universal standards for displaying health information on websites, especially when communicating with the public. This can mitigate confusion, enhance the understanding of health equity, and ensure important health information findability for older adults.

Assessing social equity considerations within transportation asset management

The impacts of transportation systems on people and communities are substantial but challenging to quantify. It requires significant effort and attention for transportation agencies to improve how social concepts such as equity are effectively incorporated into transportation asset management (TAM) plans and practices. This study, therefore, looked at TAM plans and practices to assess the current application of equity and suggested ways to improve equity incorporation into TAM at the state level. A content analysis was done on the 2019 TAM plans from all U.S. states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and the results showed that equity-related words were rarely mentioned. This indicated that TAM is one of the sectors where equity is still marginalized, and there is a strong need to improve the incorporation of equity into TAM. The study then identified several equity definitions and measures that fit the context of pavement management and, as a result, TAM. Pavement management was used for demonstration purposes as pavements are a major type of asset managed by all state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). Definitions and measures were identified by reviewing documents from the USDOT and FHWA and three sustainability rating systems widely used in transportation: Envision, Greenroads, and INVEST. In addition to these definitions and measures, this study discussed several available guides and tools that would help agencies bring equity considerations into TAM, specifically at the state level. The results indicated that although some resources provide equity definitions and measures that can be used in TAM, more work is needed to develop them to match the practices and approaches used in this sector.

A systematic review of social equity in FEWS analyses

Integrating social equity considerations into analyses of the food-energy-water systems nexus (FEWS) could improve understanding of how to meet increasing resource demands without impacting social vulnerabilities. Effective integration requires a robust definition of equity and an enhanced understanding of reliable FEWS analysis methods. By exploring how equity has been incorporated into FEWS research in the United States and countries with similar national development, this systematic literature review builds a knowledge base to address a critical research need. Our objectives were to 1) catalog analysis methods and metrics relevant to assessing FEWS equity at varying scales; 2) characterize current studies and interpret shared themes; and 3) identify opportunities for future research and the advancement of equitable FEWS governance. FEWS equity definitions and metrics were categorized by respective system (food, energy, water, overall nexus) and common governance scales (local, regional, national, global). Two central issues were climate change, which increases FEWS risks for vulnerable populations, and sustainable development, which offers a promising framework for integrating equity and FEWS in policy-making contexts. Social equity in FEWS was integrated into studies through affordability, access, and sociocultural elements. This framework could support researchers and practitioners to include equity in FEWS analysis tools based on study scale, purpose, and resource availability. Research gaps identified during the review included a lack of studies effectively integrating all three systems, a need for publicly available datasets, omission of issues related to energy conversion facilities, and opportunities for integration of environmental justice modalities into FEWS research. This paper synthesized how social equity has previously been incorporated into FEWS and outlines pathways for further consideration of equity within nexus studies. Our findings suggested that continued exploration of connections between FEWS, equity, and policy development across scales could reduce social risks and vulnerabilities associated with these systems.

Evidence Clearinghouses as Tools to Advance Health Equity: What We Know from a Systematic Scan

Evidence clearinghouses evaluate and summarize literature to help decision-makers prioritize and invest in evidence-informed interventions. Clearinghouses and related practice-oriented tools are continuously evolving; however, it is unclear the extent to which these tools assess and summarize evidence describing an intervention’s impact on health equity. We conducted a systematic scan to explore how clearinghouses communicated an intervention’s equity impact and reviewed their underlying methods and how they defined and operationalized health equity. In 2021, we identified 18 clearinghouses that were US-focused, web-based registries of interventions that assigned an intervention effectiveness rating for improving community health and the social determinants of health. We reviewed each clearinghouse’s website and collected publicly available information about their health equity impact review, review methods, and health equity definitions and values. We conducted a comparative analysis among select clearinghouses using qualitative methods. Among the 18 clearinghouses, fewer than half (only seven) summarized an intervention’s potential impact on health equity. Overall, those seven clearinghouses defined and operationalized equity differently, and most lacked transparency in their review methods. Clearinghouses used one or more approaches to communicate findings from their review: summarize study findings on differential impact for subpopulations, curate interventions that reduce health disparities, and/or assign a disparity/equity rating to each intervention. Evidence clearinghouses can enhance equity-focused methods and be transparent in their underlying values to better support the uptake and implementation of evidence-informed interventions to advance health equity. However, clearinghouses are unable to do so without underlying equity-focused empirical evidence.

Translating and embedding equity-thinking into climate adaptation: an analysis of US cities

Cities increasingly recognize the importance of furthering social equity in their climate adaptation planning. Such efforts are often in response to grassroots mobilizations, yet it is not clear to what extent they translate into urban coalitions, policy designs, and implementation efforts within city governments. In this paper, we respond to this knowledge gap by assessing how equity-thinking is translated into cities’ adaptation decision-making and governance arrangements, especially in ways that can lead to more inclusive and just climate adaptation outcomes for historically marginalized communities. We analyze adaptation plans for the 25 largest US cities using deductive and inductive coding strategies to uncover the ideas, rhetoric, and processes that guide equitable plans. We then map these outcomes of equity-thinking across procedural, distributive, and recognitional categories. Our analysis lends support to the operation of two social constructivist mechanisms of equity-thinking in adaptation planning—namely ideology and recognition. In an ideology-driven pathway, where beliefs are shared, adaptation efforts are mobilized through local actors and within public agencies who decide on the appropriateness of social equity definitions. Recognition-driven pathways occur when climate equity rhetoric is reflected and normalized through adaptation planning procedures, where cities strive to be early adopters of equitable climate strategies. This result therefore highlights the multiple ways urban leaders, decision-makers, and planners can have in steering policies and designing different planning and implementation processes.

The definition of equity in transport

Equity is a concept related to the objective of narrowing inequalities and to other notions such as justice, convergence, and fairness. The study of equity has been widely addressed within the transport sector and has been often interpreted as the study of accessibility and cohesion. However, these concepts are not totally coincident, and their definition is fraught with confusion and pluralism, with implications on the ability of transport decision making to include equity goals in the planning process. In this paper, we shed some lights on the state-of-the-art of transport-related equity studies, discussing how the concept can be framed and tied to related terms, like justice, fairness, and accessibility. Then, we explore different approaches to the conceptualization of equity in transport, from the understanding of what equity is and which impacts it generates on the transport sector and on the society, to the inclusion of equity in transport planning and project appraisal. This contribution shows the centrality of equity in contemporary transport planning. Moreover, it suggests that the plural acceptation of transport equity calls for the definition of a more comprehensive tool for the evaluation of projects. This should be able to integrate the traditional cost-benefit analysis with other equity aspects that are often left aside from the project and policy appraisals.

Abstract A057: Determining community priorities for a cancer health equity dashboard for quality monitoring

Abstract Background: Quality measures for accreditation, reimbursement and care monitoring have long focused on the delivery of effective care within health care institutions. As calls for greater health equity have emerged alongside understandings of the limited role that health care plays in health outcomes, researchers and practitioners seek quality measures that reflect critical components of health quality while also helping to address inequities in resources, access and risks that present with diverse patient populations. Our research sought to identify quality measures of importance to people living in the catchment area of our comprehensive cancer center and to determine community priorities for the development of a cancer health equity dashboard. Methodology: In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 community members and/or patients as part of a mixed methods project. A modified rapid analysis framework was used to review, analyze, categorize, and reduce data from interview transcripts. The research team also met with health care leadership whose responsibilities entailed quality measurement or reporting. Proxy member verification, through use of the hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, helped refine reporting priorities. Results: Although most participants appreciated the health care quality and health equity definitions used by the hospital, thematic analysis revealed nine concepts that community members believed were missing from the definitions as well as perceived misalignments in the operationalization of definitions when aiming to provide quality cancer care. Community members believed more attention should be paid to communications (i.e. provider-patient/family and health system-community), costs (i.e. affordability, transparency, insurance navigation) and patient context (i.e. home life, work conditions, history with health care systems). Workforce diversity was also frequently identified as an important quality-related metric that could be reported and monitored over time. Finally, participants suggested using the cancer care continuum as a comprehensible way to organize quality monitoring efforts. Most respondents had difficulty recalling cancer center efforts focused on cancer prevention and early detection yet believed there were educational and prevention interventions that could help create more equitable conditions for future cancer patients. Conclusion: Demonstrating and addressing differences in quality perspectives among community members and health systems may improve perceptions of shared interest among catchment area stakeholders while also highlighting paths to address cancer disparities. Qualitative findings will be combined with quantitative data to create a roadmap for design of a cancer health equity dashboard to facilitate quality monitoring for different audiences. Grouped by implementation difficulty, researchers hope this roadmap will highlight opportunities for cancer leadership to better incorporate equity into existing measurement and operations demands. Citation Format: Sakinah C. Suttiratana, Katherine A. Nash, Robert Rock, Carol R. Oladele, Sujana Nelakanti, Erin Singleton, Maurice Williams, Karen H. Wang. Determining community priorities for a cancer health equity dashboard for quality monitoring [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr A057.

Commissioned reports in Swedish healthcare governance – descriptive mapping and a content analysis

BackgroundIn order to support decisions regarding governance, organization and control models of the healthcare system, the Swedish government, as well as regional-level agencies, regularly commissions expert reports that are supposed to form the basis for decisions on new steering forms in healthcare.AimThe aim of this study was a) to perform a descriptive mapping of commissioned reports on Swedish healthcare governance and b) to pursue an in-depth content analysis of a strategic sample of such reports.MethodInitially, 106 reports from both national and regional levels were gathered and analysed. A matrix was constructed, consisting of questions on who had commissioned the report, who had produced it, what problems the report set out to solve and what solutions were suggested. Further, questions were posed on whether the report was research-based and whether ethical assumptions and arguments were presented. Thereafter, a strategic sample of 36 reports was selected for an in-depth analysis, using inductive content analysis.ResultsThe descriptive mapping showed that the aim of the analysed reports differed in form and content, and that they varied from giving an overview and investigating effects and consequences of new control models to more concrete goals, such as suggesting improvement measures. Academic experts involved in creating the reports often represented economics or business studies. The content analysis revealed examples of standardization in care, characterized by requirements to follow national guidelines, but also examples of requests for increased respect for professionals’ competence and experience. Further, the analysis showed how the definition of equity in care had changed, from a focus on equity in access to care in the reports produced in the 1990s to an emphasis of arguments for geographical sameness and equity in quality of care in the later reports.DiscussionTwo dominant trends were identified in the material, namely increased standardization and arguments for trust in the system. The great number of reports implies that the system risks requesting more information than it can handle and result in documents where the same message is recurrently repeated or create conflicts of interest and value tensions between different suggestions.ConclusionCommissioned reports can have substantial consequences for new reforms of management practices in healthcare. It is therefore important to investigate them critically. The results of our investigation may contribute to a more comprehensive and adequate model for acquiring and using expert reports regarding healthcare governance, both in Sweden and in similar healthcare systems.

Transforming US urban green infrastructure planning to address equity

Cities across the Unites States have embraced green infrastructure (GI) in official planning efforts. The plans conceptualize GI as providing multiple functions and benefits for urban residents, and form part of complex responses to intersectional urban challenges of social injustice and inequity, climate change, aging and expensive infrastructure, and socio-economic change. To date, it is unclear whether official city GI programs address systemic racism and urban inequality.To fill this knowledge gap, we coded and analyzed 122 formal plans from 20 US cities to examine if and how they address equity and justice in three domains: visions, processes, and distributions. We find a widespread failure of plans to conceptualize and operationalize equity planning principles. Only 13% of plans define equity or justice. Only 30% of cities recognize that they are on Native land. Over 90% of plans do not utilize inclusive processes to plan, design, implement, or evaluate GI, and so target many communities for green improvements without their consent. Although 80% of plans use GI to manage hazards and provide multiple benefits with GI, less than 10% identify the causes of uneven distributions and vulnerability. Even fewer recognize related issues of houselessness and gentrification. Very few plans have mechanisms to build community wealth through new GI jobs. We find promising seeds of best practices in some cities and plan types, but no plan exemplified best practices across all equity dimensions. If formal GI planning in US cities does not explicitly and comprehensively address equity concerns, it may reproduce the inequalities that GI is meant to alleviate. Based on our results, we identify-three key needs to improve current GI planning practices for green infrastructure and equity. First, clear definitions of equity and justice are needed, second, planning must engage with causes of inequality and displacement, and third, urban GI planning needs to be transformed through a focus on inclusion.

Miles to Go Before We Sleep: A Two-Part Content Analysis of Representations of Equity in the Dev Ed’r Discourse Community

ABSTRACT This article continues the conversation begun in Armstrong’s (2020) call to Dev Ed’rs kept awake by uncertainty about their professional identity and the future of “The Field” of developmental education and college literacy. Through the lenses of critical discourse analysis and discourse communities, the author examined how Dev Ed’rs define equity and whom they cite. The two-pronged content analysis uncovered a lack of definitional work or citations to ground Dev Ed’r discussions of equity. The article advances four steps for (re)claiming the language of equity and, with it, The Field’s professional identity: (1) establishing a definition of equity for The Field, (2) grounding the definition in the literature, (3) incorporating the definition into professional conversations, and (4) amplifying Dev Ed’r scholarship engaging with equity.

Utilizing theory to elucidate the work of creating equity for transformation within the science classroom

AbstractIn this paper, we outline how science teachers might engage in the work of creating educational equity. While acknowledging the historical inherent inequities associated with issues of access, opportunities to engage in science learning for individuals of marginalized identities (e.g., BIPOC individuals and women), and achievement, we broaden this definition to include social justice as a framework by which we can develop opportunities for the fostering of students' affinity identities with science. To this end, we draw on theorizations of equity within educational research, specifically discussed as excellence, equality, fairness, a zero‐sum game, and most recently, social justice. Additionally, we utilize McKinney de Royston and Nasir's (2017) Racialized Learning Ecologies framework. This framework provides a useful lens to notice the layers of (in)equity within education. We then extend this ecological model into science education and present three lenses (i.e., layers) through which equity operates within science teaching and learning. We conclude with a discussion of the practical implications of doing the work of equity, that is, recognizing, interpreting, and redressing inequity in science classrooms. Ultimately, we provide an actionable definition of equity that has the potential to facilitate transformative and socially just science teaching and learning.

How Conceptions of Equity Inform Principal Data Use: A Purposeful Examination of Principals From Four School Districts

In this study, we examine principals’ data use within four districts are engaged in district-level professional learning around equity. Drawing on Gutierrez's framework for dimensions of equity, we consider how principals engage in data use in light of the dimensions of access, achievement, identity, and power. Findings suggest each district had its own definition of equity and engaged in work at advancing equity based on this unique definition. We conclude with implications for policy, preparation, and practice related to these different understandings of equity.

The future of education equity policy in a COVID-19 world: a qualitative systematic review of lessons from education policymaking

Background: COVID-19 had a major global impact on education, prompting concerns about its unequal effects and some impetus to reboot equity strategies. Yet, policy processes exhibit major gaps between expectations and outcomes, and inequalities endured for decades before the pandemic. Our objective is to establish, from education research, how policymakers seek equitable outcomes. Our study emulates its partner review of ‘Health in All Policies’ (HiAP) to ask: How does education equity research use policy theory to understand policymaking?Methods: A qualitative systematic review (from 2020-21), to identify peer reviewed research and commentary articles on education, equity, and policymaking, in specialist and general databases (ERIC, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane/ Social Systems Evidence). We did not apply additional quality measures. We used an inductive approach to identify key themes. We use these texts to produce a general narrative and explore how relatively theory-informed articles enhance it.Results: 140 texts (109 articles included; 31 texts snowballed) provide a non-trivial reference to policymaking. Limiting inclusion to English-language produced a bias towards Global North articles. The comparison with HIAP highlights distinctive elements of education research. First, educational equity is ambiguous and contested, with no settled global definition or agenda (although countries like the US, and organisations like the World Bank, have disproportionate influence). Second, researchers critique the narrow equity definitions – focusing on performance – that dominate policymaking. Third, more studies provide ‘bottom-up’ analysis of ‘implementation gaps’. Fourth, more studies relate inequity to ineffective policymaking to address marginalised groups.Conclusions: Few studies use policy theories to explain policymaking, but there is an education-specific literature performing a similar task. Compared to HIAP research, there is more use of critical policy analysis to reflect on power and less focus on delivering top-down aims. Most studies criticise current educational equity aims and expect them to fail.

Seven practices for pursuing equity through learning health systems: Notes from the field.

IntroductionDespite learning health systems' focus on improvement in health outcomes, inequities in outcomes remain deep and persistent. To achieve and sustain health equity, it is critical that learning health systems (LHS) adapt and function in ways that directly prioritize equity.MethodsWe present guidance, including seven core practices, borne from theory, evidence, and experience, for actors within LHS pursuing equity.ResultsWe provide a foundational definition of equity. We then offer seven core practices for how LHS may effectively pursue equity in health: establish principle, measure for equity, lead from lived experience, co‐produce, redistribute power, practice a growth mindset, and engage beyond the healthcare system. We include three use cases that illustrate ways in which we have begun to center equity in the work of our own LHS.ConclusionThe achievement of equity requires real transformation at individual, institutional, and structural levels and requires sustained and persistent effort.

Leadership for equity and adequacy in education

ABSTRACT Equity has become a central principle in educational policy and leadership around the world. However, there is a wide range of interpretations of equity and what it means in education. In this article we explore different definitions of educational equity from policy and leadership perspectives. Our aim is to give an operational definition of equity in education to overcome vague interpretations and better guide the development of educational leadership for more consistent approaches to improving equity in education. We argue that equity in education should refer to equity of educational outcomes and incorporate both an individual and a social group aspect. We then claim that equality of outcomes is more relevant to comparisons between social groups than individuals, and we call that social equity. In current literature one or the other aspect has been adopted as an equity objective, but it appears combining the two elements is much less common. This dual objective is unique in the discussion around what equity in education means and how it could guide educational policymaking and leadership.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion: Intersection with quality improvement.

This article offers historical and current perspectives; definitions of equity, diversity, and inclusion principles; and action steps for nurse leaders and quality professionals to unite inclusion and quality improvement.