Different Races Feel Pain Differently

Posting Date: 10/01/2003

?Clearly, local, state, federal and private sector initiatives, in combination with advocacy and scientific organizations, are necessary to understand racial and ethnic disparities in pain if we are to improve the quality of pain care for all,? says Green. ?In the meantime, it?s important for patients from all backgrounds to speak up about their pain to their health providers, and insist on getting the effective treatments that now exist, and referrals to pain specialists. Don?t assume that pain has to be a part of your life.?

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Besides Anderson, Green, Fillingim, Tait and Todd, the paper?s authors are: Tamara Baker, Ph.D., of the U-M School of Public Health; Lisa C. Campbell, Ph.D., of the Duke University Medical Center; Sheila Decker, Ph.D., of the University of Iowa School of Nursing; Donna A. Kaloukalani, M.D., MPH, of Washington University; Kathryn Lasch, Ph.D., of the New England Medical Center; Cynthia Myers, Ph.D., of University of California, Los Angeles; and April Vallerand, Ph.D., RN, of the Wayne State University College of Nursing.

Reference: Pain Medicine, Vol. 4, No. 3, Sept. 2003, p. 277-294.

Available online at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1526-4637.2003.03034.x/full/

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