Healthcare disparities in pain management

Despite efforts targeted at physicians for improving the way in which they manage pain, discrepancies still abound in how they treat certain patients for this condition. Special populations of patients such as racial minorities, women, and substance abusers are victims of deficiencies in pain management and suffer needlessly. Healthcare providers need to be aware of disparities that may not be readily apparent. To provide appropriate care, physicians need to follow pain management guidelines; however, they receive contradictory information on how to treat patients in pain, and they may be apprehensive about prescribing opioids. Recognizing that pain is one of the most frequent reasons a patient may see a physician, it is important to recognize the healthcare disparities in managing pain as well as the barriers to providing appropriate treatment for pain. Only when physicians acknowledge disparities and barriers can they begin to evaluate and improve on their own practices of pain management.