Ep. 152 Understanding Health Equity Research with Kevin Sykes, PhD, MPH
In this episode, Dr. Kevin Sykes, PhD, MPH, director of clinical research at Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas, explores health equity research in otolaryngology with host Dr. Gopi Shah. First, Dr. Sykes underscores how historical injustices contribute to health disparities seen today, using differences in life expectancy as an example. He then addresses challenges with assessing head & neck cancer outcomes, including small sample sizes, limited community participation, and data aggregation. Speaking to study design, Dr. Sykes shares his experience working with community health workers, whom he finds invaluable for their ability to build relationships with research participants. Finally, Dr. Shah and Dr. Sykes brainstorm how health equity research can shape public health policies and medical education. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 – Introduction 01:29 – Understanding Health Equity Research 09:44 – The Role of Social Determinants in Health Equity 12:00 – The Importance of Community Representation in Research 14:34 – Challenges in Health Equity Research 17:32 – The Role of Community Health Workers in Research 26:00 – Designing a Health Equity Research Study 30:48 – The Role of Qualitative Data in Health Equity Research 32:39 – Understanding Racial Differences in Treatment Choices 33:30 – The Power of Qualitative Data in Uncovering Lived Experiences 35:32 – The Rigor and Challenges of Qualitative Research 42:35 – The Impact of Health Equity Research on Policy and Advocacy 48:33 – The Role of Medical Education in Health Equity Research 56:54 – Resources and Recommendations for Health Equity ResearcH --- RESOURCES Backtable ENT Episode 98, “Health Equity Collaborative in ENT with Dr. Alexander Chiu and Dr. Romaine Johnson:” https://www.backtable.com/shows/ent/podcasts/98/health-equity-collaborative-in-ent Backtable ENT Episode 31, “Mentorship Feedback & Coaching with Dr. Carrie Francis:” https://www.backtable.com/shows/ent/podcasts/31/mentorship-feedback-coaching Backtable ENT Episode 129, “American Head and Neck Society Scholarship for Underrepresented Minority Medical Students with Dr. Tammara Watts:” https://www.backtable.com/shows/ent/podcasts/129/american-head-neck-society-scholarship-for-underrepresented-minority-medical-students