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Defining Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pain Management

  • Symposium: AAOS/ORS/ABJS Musculoskeletal Healthcare Disparities Research Symposium
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

Substantial pain prevalence is as high as 40% in community populations. There is consistent evidence that racial/ethnic minority individuals are overrepresented among those who experience such pain and whose pain management is inadequate.

Questions/purposes

The objectives of this paper are to (1) define parameters of and summarize evidence pertinent to racial/ethnic minority disparities in pain management, (2) identify factors contributing to observed disparities, and (3) identify strategies to minimize the disparities.

Methods

Scientific literature was selectively reviewed addressing pain epidemiology, differences in pain management of non-Hispanic whites versus racial/ethnic minority groups, and patient and physician factors contributing to such differences.

Results

Racial/ethnic minorities consistently receive less adequate treatment for acute and chronic pain than non-Hispanic whites, even after controlling for age, gender, and pain intensity. Pain intensity underreporting appears to be a major contribution of minority individuals to pain management disparities. The major contribution by physicians to such disparities appears to reflect limited awareness of their own cultural beliefs and stereotypes regarding pain, minority individuals, and use of narcotic analgesics.

Conclusions

Racial/ethnic minority patients with pain need to be empowered to accurately report pain intensity levels, and physicians who treat such patients need to acknowledge their own belief systems regarding pain and develop strategies to overcome unconscious, but potentially harmful, negative stereotyping of minority patients.

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The author thanks Rachel Meyers for her assistance in the development of bibliographic materials.

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  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, 1505 Race Street, Mail Stop 1033, Bellet Building, 6th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19102-1192, USA

    Jana M. Mossey PhD, MPH, MSN

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Mossey, J.M. Defining Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pain Management. Clin Orthop Relat Res 469, 1859–1870 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1770-9

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