Equal Access Is Quality: an Update on the State of Disparities Research in Trauma

Purpose of Review: Over the past 5 years, disparities in the access to and quality of trauma care have expanded on the relatively nascent body of literature. Recent Findings: This review summarizes the newest findings in trauma disparities research, identifying 47 original research articles that either illuminate disparities that had not been previously described or augment our understanding of a known disparity. Furthermore, the current literature on trauma disparities establishes the importance of investigating disparities in pre- and post-hospital quality metrics and refining the approach to quality measurement for trauma care in pediatric and geriatric populations in particular. A new development on the study of trauma disparities is the effort to establish the mechanisms by which racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities occur. Summary: The authors conclude from this evidence-based review that, as new disparities in trauma care continue to emerge, novel approaches to measuring and eliminating these disparities are needed.