Investigating racial differences in coping with chronic osteoarthritis pain

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Pain Management
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability in older adults.
• Racial disparities exist in OA treatment, potentially linked to pain coping mechanisms.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for equitable healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between race and specific pain coping strategies in veterans with hip or knee OA.
• To explore how race influences the use of prayer and other methods for managing OA pain.
• To examine potential links between coping strategies and treatment decisions, such as joint replacement.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of 939 veterans (50-79 years) with moderate to severe hip/knee OA.
• Utilized validated instruments to assess pain coping strategies, attitudes towards prayer, and self-efficacy.
• Employed multivariable models to adjust for demographic and clinical factors.

Main Results:

• African Americans were more likely than whites to find prayer helpful and to have used it for OA pain.
• African Americans reported greater use of the "hoping and praying" coping strategy compared to whites.
• No significant racial differences were found in arthritis pain or function self-efficacy, or other coping strategies.

Conclusions:

• The increased reliance on "hoping and praying" by African Americans may contribute to lower rates of total joint arthroplasty.
• Further research is needed to understand how this coping strategy impacts treatment decisions for OA.
• Addressing racial differences in pain coping is essential for improving OA management and reducing health disparities.