Social, Cultural, and Economic Factors Influence Risk of Receiving Unsafe Medication

Research from Aarhus University has highlighted how social, cultural, and economic disparities can significantly impact the quality of medical treatment, particularly regarding the risk of receiving inappropriate or risky medication. A comprehensive national study published in PLOS Medicine shows that individuals with lower socioeconomic status are up to 85% more likely to be prescribed potentially harmful medications compared to those in higher income brackets. The study underscores that economic conditions have the strongest link to the likelihood of receiving inappropriate medication, largely reflecting how social standing influences access and decision-making within healthcare systems.

The research combined data from a large 2017 health survey with national register information, applying Pierre Bourdieu's theory of different capital forms—economic, cultural, and social—to better understand the roots of these inequalities. It found that lower education levels increased the risk of problematic prescriptions by 66%, while limited social networks accounted for an approximately 35% higher risk. Immigrants and individuals living alone also face greater vulnerabilities in medical treatment quality.

Notably, social inequalities are more closely linked to overtreatment, where patients receive medications that may cause more harm than benefit, rather than undertreatment, where beneficial treatments are missing. This persistent disparity exists even among individuals with similar health conditions, suggesting systemic issues in healthcare equity.

The study advocates for the pivotal role of general practitioners, who prescribe most medications in Denmark, in fostering greater treatment equality. Tailored interventions—such as longer consultations, consistent patient-provider relationships, and clearer communication—could help reduce these inequalities. Ongoing research aims to identify effective strategies to diminish the risk of inappropriate treatment among socially vulnerable groups.

This study emphasizes that achieving healthcare equity requires targeted efforts beyond a universal system to address underlying social determinants of health.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-social-cultural-economic-status-affect.html