Applying an equity lens to interventions: Using PROGRESS ensures consideration of socially stratifying factors to illuminate inequities in health

O'Neill, J., Tabish, H., Welch, V., Petticrew, M., Pottie, K., Clarke, M., et al. (2014). Applying an equity lens to interventions: Using PROGRESS ensures consideration of socially stratifying factors to illuminate inequities in health. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 67(1), 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2013.08.005

Example available Journal article

Description

This tool is used to describe factors that contribute to health inequity. PROGRESS stands for:

  • Place of residence
  • Race/ethnicity/culture/language
  • Occupation
  • Gender/sex
  • Religion
  • Education
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Social capital

The acronym is meant to encourage public health researchers, program planners and managers to think about these intersecting determinants of health and their consequences on equity.

Steps for Using Method/Tool

The PROGRESS tool guides users through the following five steps:

  1. Compile the recommendation(s) for the interventions(s) you have formed with the research evidence.
  2. Independently or with stakeholders, consider the impact each potential recommendation can have on the PROGRESS factors.
  3. Consider the effect PROGRESS factors have on the access and acceptability of each recommendation.
  4. Choose the most appropriate intervention for your community.
  5. Create an implementation plan for the intervention that addresses the relevant PROGRESS factors.

These summaries are written by the NCCMT to condense and to provide an overview of the resources listed in the Registry of Methods and Tools and to give suggestions for their use in a public health context. For more information on individual methods and tools included in the review, please consult the authors/developers of the original resources.

We have provided the resources and links as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by McMaster University of any of the products, services or opinions of the external organizations, nor have the external organizations endorsed their resources and links as provided by McMaster University. McMaster University bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external sites.

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