SINAI Urban Health Institute

The Sinai Urban Health Institute documented that racial and ethnic health disparities were widening in Chicago but appeared to be narrowing nationally.  Existing data sources enabled researchers to examine who was dying from particular disease but could not ascertain who was living with a particular life-threatening condition and/or which communities were most vulnerable, in order to effectively target interventions.  In an effort to address these disparities and shape creative new interventions for improved health, the Sinai Urban Health Institute sought out to conduct a local area health survey.
 

Phase I:  The Sinai Improving Community Health Survey

With the guidance of community groups, SUHI designed and completed a comprehensive population health survey on various health topics.  The survey instrument contains 469 questions on the adult module and 144 questions on the child module.  The survey was administered face-to-face to a randomly selected, representative sample from six Chicago communities from September 2002-April 2003.  The final dataset includes information about 1,699 adults (18-75 years) and 811 children (0-12 years). 

The findings of the survey revealed significant health disparities and identified where and to what extent these disparities exist.  The data provide an intimate health profile of each community area and have been instrumental in shaping interventions and bringing resources to address the health concerns of these communities. 

Phase II:  Translation of the Sinai Improving Community Survey Findings

Ten key findings from the survey were unveiled in the Sinai Improving Community Health Survey Report 1, January 2004.   Ten additional findings, along with a special section on the translation of findings from Report 1, came out in the Sinai Improving Community Health Survey Report 2, September 2005.  Following the release of each report, we held a press conference and have worked with various academic institutions, community organizations and leaders to translate findings into meaningful public health programs.

Since completion of the survey in 2003, the Sinai Urban Health Institute has made close to 20 unique presentations at national conferences and over 100 local presentations to share findings and take action.  We have also published several peer-reviewed journal articles on topics such as: elevated smoking prevalence in some Chicago minority communities; disproportionate burden of diabetes among Puerto Ricans in Humboldt Park; and significant geographic variations in health between six Chicago communities.  All activities related to the translation of survey findings have been supported by the Chicago Community Trust from April 2004-March 2007.

With each presentation, report and/or publication, our aim is to motivate foundations, inspire public health leaders and galvanize community residents to take action toward improved health in some of Chicago’s most vulnerable communities.

• Allgood KL, Silva A, Shah A, and Whitman S. HIV Testing Practices and Attitudes on Prevention Efforts in Six Diverse Chicago Communities. Journal of Community Health. 2009; 34(6): 514-522.
• Margellos-Anast H, Shah A, Whitman S. Prevalence of obesity among children in six Chicago communities: Findings from a health survey. Public Health Reports 2008; 123:117-125.
• Whitman S, Shah AM, Silva A, Ansell D. Mammography screening in six diverse communities in Chicago-A population study. Cancer Detection and Prevention. 2007; 31:166-172.
• Whitman S, Silva A, Shah AM. Disproportionate Impact of Diabetes in a Puerto Rican Community of Chicago. Journal of Community Health 2006;31(6):521-31.
• Shah AM, Whitman S, Silva A. Variations in the Health Conditions of 6 Chicago Community Areas: A Case for Local-Level Data. American Journal of Public Health 2006;96(8):1485-91.
• Shah AM, Whitman S. Sinai Health System's Improving Community Health Survey: Report 2 (Ten More Key Findings). Chicago, Illinois: Sinai Health System, September 2005.
• Dell JL, Whitman S, Shah AM, Silva A, Ansell D. Smoking in 6 Diverse Chicago Communities - A Population Study. American Journal of Public Health 2005;95(6):1036-42.
• Shah AM & Whitman S. Progress Report to the Chicago Community Trust. Grant ID#C2003-00844, May 2005. Chicago, Illinois: Sinai Health System, 2005.
• Whitman S, Silva A, Shah A, Ansell D. Diversity and Disparity: GIS and Small-Area Analysis in Six Chicago Neighborhoods. Journal of Medical Systems 2004;28(4):397-411.
• Margellos H, Silva A, Whitman S. Comparison of Health Status Indicators in Chicago: Are Black-White Disparities Worsening? American Journal of Public Health 2004;94(1):116-21.
• Whitman S, Williams C, Shah AM. Sinai Health System's Improving Community Health Survey: Report I (Ten Key Findings). Chicago, Illinois: Sinai Health System, January 2004.

For more information regarding this project please send an e-mail to Ami Shah at suhi@sinai.org