RE: 'AN OVERVIEW OF METHODS FOR MONITORING SOCIAL DISPARITIES IN CANCER WITHAN EXAMPLE USING TRENDS IN LUNG CANCER INCIDENCE BY AREA-SOCIOECONOMICPOSITION AND RACE-ETHNICITY, 1992-2004'

摘要

The appropriate measurement of ethnic disparities/ inequalities in health and disease is crucially important, not just for monitoring but also for choosing priorities for interventions. I would like to add to the debate that Harper et al. (1) and Messer (2) have started, not least to offer a European perspective.Our modern-day, multiethnic world has set lofty goals of racial equality and-even more importantly, because they are not merely aspirations-ethical and just policies, that is, equity (3). Our goals, in the United States and Europe alike, are backed by legislation and national policy. These goals are immensely difficult to achieve, and the absence of both clarity in conceptual reasoning and high-quality data are twin obstacles, arguably making the task impossible. The underpinning questions of why we have set these goals, and the consequent health-care actions required, are as important as the technical questions of measurement (3).