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Racial differences in opioid use for chronic nonmalignant pain
Ian Chen1, James Kurz, Mark Pasanen
1Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, USA. chenia@evms.edu
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|July 30, 2005
Summary
Racial disparities exist in chronic pain management. White patients are more likely to receive opioid analgesics than Black patients, despite similar nonopioid treatments.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Pain Management
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Chronic pain significantly impacts quality of life and is a leading cause of disability.
- Evidence suggests racial disparities in pain treatment.
- Understanding these disparities is crucial for equitable healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if race influences treatment decisions for chronic nonmalignant pain.
- To analyze racial differences in pain management within a primary care setting.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 463 patients experiencing chronic nonmalignant pain (lasting >3 months) and their primary care physicians.
- Data were collected from 12 academic medical centers.
- Analysis focused on 397 Black and White patients.
Main Results:
- Black patients reported higher average pain scores (6.7/10) than White patients (5.6/10).
- White patients were significantly more likely to be prescribed opioid analgesics (45.7%) compared to Black patients (32.2%), even after controlling for other factors (OR 2.67).
- No racial differences were observed in the use of nonopioid therapies (physical therapy, NSAIDs) or specialty referrals.
Conclusions:
- While nonopioid pain treatments appear equitable across races, White patients receive opioid analgesics more frequently than Black patients.
- This racial disparity in opioid prescribing warrants further investigation.
- Additional research is needed to understand the underlying reasons and impact on patient outcomes.