From Awareness to Action: Increasing Health Equity by Addressing Cultural and Structural Barriers in Pharmacy Practice, Education, and Research

Health disparities and inequities in the US health care system contribute to poor health outcomes. These issues affect all aspects of pharmacy practice, including medication use and adherence, and contribute to the suboptimal performance of the United States in global health care rankings compared with other industrialized nations. More robust efforts are needed to address the impact of cultural awareness/intelligence, social determinants of health (SDOH), health-related social needs (HRSN), and diversity, equity, inclusiveness, and accessibility (DEIA) within the pharmacy profession. Comprehensive knowledge, skills development, and assessment tools in these areas are lacking in pharmacy education. Research projects focused on health inequities and disparities are limited by their lack of statistical power, lack of inclusiveness of diverse populations, community partners, and researchers, and lack of rigorous study designs to conclusively document and resolve these problems. Addressing cultural intelligence, HRSN/SDOH, and DEIA barriers in health care and pharmacy practice, education, and research is therefore essential for improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Public and Professional Relations Committee was charged to update ACCP's cultural competency white paper series. This white paper evaluates evidence and describes current challenges related to cultural intelligence, HRSN/SDOH, and DEIA in pharmacy practice, education, and research. Evidence tables are provided together with ranked recommendations for integrating these principles into doctor of pharmacy curricula, residency training, continuing education, clinical practice, and research. By implementing these changes, pharmacy professionals and organizations can help create a more equitable health care system and reduce disparities in patient care, health outcomes, and research.