Measurement of Socioeconomic Deprivation in Orthopaedic Trauma: A Scoping Review.

JBJS Rev · Sep 01 2025 · Review

Otalike EG, Firth AD, Marson A, Scheimitsch EH, Joel GJ

Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Canada

Orthopaedic Trauma

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONThis scoping review found wide variability and lack of standardization in tools used to measure socioeconomic deprivation in orthopaedic trauma research, limiting cross-study comparability and equity research.
Abstract, as published

» There is wide variability in the measurement tools used to assess socioeconomic deprivation status (SDS) in orthopaedic trauma research, including single-item, multi-item, and area-based indices.» Area-based SDS measures are commonly used because they can be readily linked to geographic identifiers in administrative data; however, they are limited by ecological fallacy and may misclassify individual-level socioeconomic status.» The lack of standardization in SDS measurement limits comparability across studies, highlighting the need for core measurement domains to support equity-focused research.

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