Research that identifies reasons for or provide an explanation for health or health care disparities. For example, patient beliefs and trust may play a role in thier decisions to forego particular treatments.

Self-Management is the ability of individuals to have the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills to manage their health problems or disorders on a day-to-day basis. It is a skill that enables individuals, and their families, to make improved use of existing health services, as well as make choices surrounding health care providers, medication, diet, exercise and other lifestyle issues that protect or damage health.

Social capital consists of the relationships and networks between and among community members that provide access to resources. These are relationships/networks that provide tangible advantages to those with better connections. Examples of these advantages include information, help from community members, collective action on the part of the community, and solidarity with a group. For example, members of a community rich in physicians have many informal and formal avenues for medical advice. In some workplaces, it is possible to donate ones' time off on behalf of someone who needs more than their allotted vacation/sick time; this is the mutual aid aspect of social capital at work. The role of the African American church in the Civil Rights movement is an example of collective action. Solidarity occurs when people act together for the benefit of their community (I to we). (Source: Putnam)

Characteristics of human society that contribute to health and health care disparities. These include racial segregation, social cohesion, income, and education.

A measure of a person's available advantages in comparison to others in society. The factors that make up socioeconomic status include income, wealth, education, and employment. In addition, some are investigating the link between perceived social status and health. A growing body of evidence indicates that socioeconomic status (SES) is a strong predictor of health. Better health is associated with having more income, more years of education, and a more prestigious job, as well as living in neighborhoods where a higher percentage of residents have higher incomes and more education. Health improves with each step up the SES ladder. Interestingly however, the greatest individual burden of disease occurs among the most disadvantaged, but the greatest population effects of SES-related health disparities occur from adverse health effects in middle SES groups. SES can affect health in multiple ways: a) Access and quality of health care; b) Health behaviors (e.g. smoking, lack of physical activity, nutrition); c) Psychosocial processes (e.g. stress, lack of personal control, hostility, depression); d) Physical environment (e.g. pollution, exposure to toxins & crowding); and e) Social environments (e.g. neighborhood, work and school environments, social capital, discrimination). (Source: Adler et Al., The Macarthur Research Network on SocioEconomic Status and Health)

The Standard of Care is the expected level and type of care provided by the average caregiver under a certain given set of circumstances. These circumstances are supported through findings from expert consensus and based on specific research and/or documentation in scientific literature.