When Talking About Social Determinants, Precision Matters

The term social determinants of health (SDOH) is ubiquitous in health care; equally pervasive is the misuse of the term to characterize health system interventions to address non-medical factors that contribute to health. Health care industry representatives often use SDOH interchangeably with other similar, yet distinct, health concepts, putting usage of the term in conflict with the way public health officials communicate about social determinants. The result is a disconnect in important conversations about how to improve health and reduce disparities. More than simply an issue of semantics, the lack of precision in terminology could negatively impact the health care industry’s ability to form strong cross-sector partnerships.