drawing of headphones Module 5 – Unit 6:  Listening Task  click to Listen

Interview about Solutions to Health Disparities

Think About It   Recommendations and plans to eliminate health disparities are extremely varied and wide-ranging. Why do you think there are so many opinions regarding this issue? Why might it be difficult to reach consensus on the best solution?

You will hear an interview with Thomas LaVeist, director of the Center for Health Disparities Solutions at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Read the introduction below. Then listen and answer the questions that follow.

If you’re an African-American, you’re more at risk of developing sleep apnea, sarcoidosis and asthma than members of other ethnic groups. If you’re Asian or a Pacific Islander, you’ve got a higher chance of getting tuberculosis. If you’re an American Indian or a native Alaskan, your child has double the risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome than the rest of the U.S. population. And if you’re Caucasian, your child has a higher chance of getting cystic fibrosis.

Researchers say ethnicity, socio-economic, environmental and educational factors all play a part in racial health disparities. Access to health care, utilization of health services, and experiences with physicians also vary among racial groups. Newsweek’s Jennifer Barrett Ozols spoke with Thomas LaVeist about race and medicine.

 

Part 1

  1. How are education, employment, and health insurance linked in terms of access to health care?
  1. What is the leading indicator of poor health?
  1. What is the life span difference between African Americans and whites?
  1. Is physician bias the main problem in terms of health care disparities?
  1. What are examples of factors in our physical environment that affect our health?

Part 2

  1. What steps towards health equality does Mr. LaVeist mention related to the following areas?
  1. Training of health professionals
  1. Hospital accreditation
  1. Health education programs
  1. Health care benefits
  1. How can discrimination and stress affect the health behaviors of minorities as they become adults?
  1. Why is Mr. LaVeist more optimistic now about the alleviation of health disparities?

9.  Do you agree that there are reasons to be optimistic?