Health Equity Research
Innovative research to ensure quality care for all communities.
Novant Health is committed to developing evidence-based approaches to investigate and address health disparities, health inequities and social determinants of health. Our health-equity research program uses the diverse perspectives of clinicians, academics and community experts throughout the research process. Our research covers a lot of different areas to ensure we help everyone we serve live a healthier life; to date, it’s touched on topics including maternal and child health, clinical decision-making, rural health access, patient- provider communication, and more.
What is Health Equity Research?
Health equity research investigates how different social structures, such as environmental conditions and economic systems, contribute to health disparities among different populations. It also seeks to discover and highlight unique strengths that are often undervalued. Health equity researchers use this knowledge, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and policies, to promote fair and improved health outcomes for all communities.
If you are a Novant Health team member and are interested in conducting health equity research, please contact HealthEquityResearch@novanthealth.org to learn more about our services.
Novant Health’s Partnership with UNC
Novant Health has partnered with the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine as part of our commitment to advance health equity research in North Carolina. This affiliation aims to bring research opportunities to Southeastern North Carolina (including New Hanover, Pender, Columbus, Bladen and Brunswick counties), which has been historically underserved for clinical and health equity research. The Health Equity Research Advisory Council (HERAC) represents a collaborative effort to advise on and support health equity research in Southeastern North Carolina.
One of the key opportunities our affiliation has sponsored includes the Promoting Health Equity Research in Southeastern North Carolina award, which offers up to $50,000 for collaborative NH-UNC research addressing health equity in Southeastern North Carolina twice a year. We have currently funded twelve projects as a result of this partnership.
Faculty Collaboration Database
If you are a researcher or community group interested in collaborating Novant Health and UNC investigators to promote research in Southeastern North Carolina, search our Faculty Collaboration Database, or contact HealthEquityResearch@novanthealth.org.
Health Equity Research Studies
Novant Health’s DEI office piloted a program to address implicit bias and cultural competency education. Enhanced quality of cultural and linguistic competencies in patient interactions is a major part of our strategy in creating remarkable patient experiences (Subscription required).
Education helps the system embed DEI into its culture. Novant Health compared its two-day diversity education program for leaders to its one-day session for employees. Results and observations are summarized here (Subscription required).
This study aimed to see if there is a difference in feeding tube placement between White and Black patients with advanced dementia and whether this potential difference varied by patient's other demographic and clinical characteristics (Subscription required).
This research aimed to measure the disparities in breastfeeding associated with maternal race/ethnicity, age, insurance payor and zip code rates of education in North Carolina. We also investigated any changes in these disparities before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Subscription required).
Affirming and accessible health care may improve health outcomes for trans individuals in the U.S. We explored strategies to improve affirming care for trans individuals from the perspectives of providers and transgender and non-binary community members (Subscription required).
We seek to query state insurance claims data from Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina to understand the current rates of surgery evaluation within the state and compare this to New Hanover Hospital EMR data for rates of pediatric epilepsy specialty referral (Ongoing study).
This research project seeks to understand North Carolina (NC) family physicians’ beliefs and practices related to medical care for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) patients (Ongoing study).
The current project is designed to test the acceptability, appropriateness, and adoption of a web-based resource (BFAST) designed to address disparities in care faced by Black families with autistic toddlers in Southeastern NC (Ongoing study).
Prostate cancer has higher incidence and mortality in Black compared to White men. This study seeks to assess whether visual decision support can improve patient-provider communication and reduce disparities in prostate cancer care (Ongoing study).
Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) are a leading cause of maternal mortality. Racial disparities in HDP result in disproportionate harm to Black individuals and their communities. We propose to adapt and implement an HDP intervention to improve equity for Black patients (Ongoing study).
Strokes disproportionately affect those living in rural counties with limited access to healthcare. This study will examine the status of these stroke survivors to understand the rehab therapies they received, their current functional status, and their preferences for post-acute care (Ongoing study)
Breastfeeding outcomes are disproportionately lower among Black families compared to their ethnic-racial peers, especially in the coastal region of Southeastern North Carolina. This study seeks to identify ways to support Black women in realizing their breastfeeding goals (Ongoing study).