Becky Reply

In this discussion board, I will be exploring a recent evidence-based practice change in nursing routine screenings for social determinants of health. I will address the background for research on this topic/EBP change, what researchers wanted to learn, and why, what the evidence shows, outcomes, and improvements in positive outcomes. Also, I will explore the challenges anticipated with the implementation of this change and the best practices that can be implemented to ensure its successful implementation. Healthcare systems have become increasingly aware of the intrinsic association of these factors, influencing a call to action to both assess and address these drivers, also termed health-related social needs (HRSN), as part of the essential community-clinical care continuum to optimize health and mitigate health disparities (Gray et al.,2023).

Routine screening for social determinants of health, which include food insecurity, housing instability, transportation, and safety, have all been known to influence health outcomes and healthcare needs. Findings on patients’ social needs change demonstrated improved access to resources (Yan et al.,2022). Researchers have searched for an understanding of whether routine screenings can help to identify the unmet needs of those experiencing social determinants of health and if appropriate interventions can lead to improved outcomes. Researchers aim to prove that regular screenings enhance detection, which in turn can help provide appropriate community support or resources, leading to patient well-being. Studies have shown that helping patients find community support leads to decreased emergency health care visits. There is still new and emerging clinical information that supports improvements, including patient reporting outcomes. 

Some of the challenges that we are facing include the lack of community resources; the difficulty providers have when talking to patients about social determinants of health that they are facing and a lack of time during clinical visits. To overcome these challenges, best practices that can be implemented are improved staff training in this area, working closely with community resources and utilizing better screening tools for patients that may be encountering social determinants of health. Incorporating these tools into routine care has been recognized as a key strategy for addressing health inequalities, given the growing evidence base on the influence of SDH on health outcomes (Martinez et al.,2025).

References

Gray, T. W., Podewils, L. J., Rasulo, R. M., Weiss, R. P., & Tomcho, M. (2023). Examining the Implementation of Health-Related Social Need (HRSN) Screenings at a Pediatric Community Health Center. Journal of primary care & community health, 14, 21501319231171519. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319231171519Links to an external site.

Martínez-Alfonso, J., Sebastian-Valles, F., Martinez-Vizcaino, V., Jimenez-Olivas, N., Cabrera-Majada, A., De los Mozos-Hernando, I., Cekrezi, S., Martínez-Martínez, H., & Mesas, A. E. (2025). Social determinants of health screening tools for adults in primary care: Protocol for a scoping review. JMIR Research Protocols, 14, e68668. doi.10.2196/68668

Yan, A. F., Chen, Z., Wang, Y., Campbell, J. A., Xue, Q. L., Williams, M. Y., Weinhardt, L. S., & Egede, L. E. (2022). Effectiveness of Social Needs Screening and Interventions in Clinical Settings on Utilization, Cost, and Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Health equity, 6(1), 454–475. https://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2022.0010Links to an external site.