“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do,” is a famous Steve Jobs quote that could be applied to the creators of the Sharecare Community Well-being Index.
During the past ten years, Sharecare has developed measurement capabilities with the goal of adopting, augmenting, and scaling proven scientific instruments, culminating in the world’s most definitive measure of well-being. Over 43 million RealAge Test participants and more than 600 unique measures from peer-reviewed research organized by Boston University created the Sharecare Community Well-Being Index.
Well-Being parameters include:
- Purpose—liking what you do and being motivated to achieve your goals
- Social—supportive relationships and love in your life
- Financial—reducing stress and increasing security
- Community—liking where you live, feeling safe, and having pride in your neighborhood
- Physical—good health and enough energy to function well
Social determinants of health consist of valid and reliable predictors of well-being focused on:
- Economic security—unemployment rate, labor force participation, income above poverty, insurance
- Healthcare access—active MDs, OB/GYN, and Peds specialists
- Resource access—food access at 20 miles, libraries, religious institutions per 10,000 residents, percentage of people over 65 who work
- Food access—children, black, and senior food access at 1 mile
- Housing/transportation—home value to income ratio > 4:1, homes 500K and up, use of public transit
Via the RealAge Test, these ten combined capabilities provide insights on individual well-being and the environment at a higher geospatial resolution than ever before available. State, MSA (metropolitan statistical area), County, ZIP code and even most census tracts can be measured at a point of time and over time.
The dynamic views will allow for almost contemporaneous assessment for interventions. Best practices can be shared while communities and organizations implement programs to help entire populations. Appropriate targeted solutions can be directed to regions of greatest need and, most importantly, measured for effectiveness.
A recent conversation between Jeff Arnold, Founder and CEO of Sharecare, and Dr. Sandro Galea, Robert A. Knox Professor and Dean at the Boston University of Public Health, revealed an interesting analogy. In the late 1990s, migrating from DOS operating system to Windows created a digital democracy, with facile access to the power of the computer for most everyone. Comparably, migrating from disaggregated data to organized information created a digital instrument for epidemiologists, public health officials, health care organizations, foundations, government officials, community servicers, and anyone interested in improving populations.
In the past, well-meaning people and entities have spent countless fortunes on projects having undetermined value and insignificant chances of success. Typically, excitement and enthusiasm at the beginning melt away as resources are consumed and objective results are impossible to measure.
Going forward, an open access data platform will identify needs, assess initial conditions, and subsequently measure progress. Positive feedback will encourage persistence, whereas negative results will redirect resources and energy. Thus, benevolent altruistic contributors will avoid the current situation of “flying blind” associated with the conformational bias of believing they are making progress.
Individuals will also have easy access to proven suggestions or “nudges” to maintain motivation for health, wellness, and happiness. Similarly, organizations can assess group progress as cultures change to embrace healthier lifestyles that ultimately contribute to a more engaged, satisfied, and productive environment.
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there,” is a paraphrase from Lewis Carroll’s Adventures in Wonderland. Metrics matter, and having easy access to comprehensive, contemporaneous, accurate knowledge will help everyone life a longer, happier, and healthier life.
