“Identifying Social Factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in pain research”: explanation and elaboration to support the standardized reporting of equity-relevant data

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The "ISSHOOs (Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes) in pain research" project endeavored to address the paucity and inconsistency of equity-relevant, sociodemographic data collection and reporting in human adult pain research. The resulting "ISSHOOs Recommendations" provide a data collection tool that has practical utility and is globally and cross-culturally relevant, adaptable, and freely accessible. METHODS: This explanation and elaboration manuscript is a companion to the ISSHOOs Recommendations. It aims to elaborate on the published recommendations and provide practical guidance to broaden understanding and facilitate use. RESULTS: We provide item-specific information relevant to each of the eight items in Set A (the minimum dataset), including relevant background, rationale, and guidance for item tailoring to suit specific populations and contexts. We discuss the selection of a sub-set of relevant items from Set B (the extended, optional dataset) and suggest how the ISSHOOs data have the potential to complement efforts to address equity concerns in analyses, interpretation, and reporting. CONCLUSION: It is timely and important to improve and standardize the reporting of equity-relevant, sociodemographic data in pain research. The ISSHOOs recommendations, supported by this manuscript, have the potential to promote equity-relevant awareness and understanding and advance progress toward reducing health inequities for people with pain.