Table 4 Overlap of guidance items on anticipating differential effects across SES in relation to population characteristics

Welch et al. [36, p. 2]

Conduct

Knowledge translation

Define conceptual approach to health equity “whether social gradients exist in the burden of disease and whether relative or absolute effects of interventions are likely to differ for disadvantaged populations”

Frame the health equity question “This requires consideration of both relative risk and absolute effects, as well as baseline risk of the health outcome of interest across social gradients.”

Welch et al. [35]

Planning

“Are there differences in patient/community/population characteristics (e.g. underlying pathophysiology, comorbidities, patient attitudes, etc.) that are likely to create important differences in the magnitude of relative effect of the intervention versus the control for the outcome of interest?”

Oxman et al. [28]

Applicability

“Which groups or settings are likely to be disadvantaged in relation to the option being considered?”

“Are there plausible reasons for anticipating differences in the relative effectiveness of the option for disadvantaged groups or settings?”

“Are there likely to be different baseline conditions across groups or settings such that that the absolute effectiveness of the option would be different, and the problem more or less important, for disadvantaged groups or settings?”

NIHR CLAHRC North West Coast [26]

Planning

“What evidence is there that this problem is unequally distributed across socio-economic groups?”

“What aspects of socio-economic inequalities can be expected to impact on this problem?”

Welch et al. [23]

Planning

Conduct

Question formulation: “Consider whether there are known or possible differences by sex/gender across: baseline risk, prevalence, vulnerability, implementation or response to intervention, and plan objectives and methods accordingly.”