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Self‐Reported Pain and Utilization of Pain Treatment Between Minorities and Nonminorities in the United States
Author(s) -
Meghani Salimah H.,
Cho Eunhee
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2009.00785.x
Subject(s) - ethnic group , medicine , socioeconomic status , medical prescription , population , race (biology) , chronic pain , logistic regression , demographics , physical therapy , demography , gerontology , environmental health , botany , sociology , anthropology , pharmacology , biology
Objectives: To investigate differences in reported pain and pain treatment utilization (use of over‐the‐counter and prescription pain medications, seeing a pain specialist, and use of complementary and alternative medicine) among minorities and nonminorities in the general population. Design: Secondary analysis of a national probability survey conducted by the CBS News/New York Times in January 2003. Sample: Adult population in the United States, 18 years or older, having a telephone line at home. Measurements: The survey asked respondents a series of questions about demographics, pain characteristics, and utilization of pain treatment; logistic regression was used to identify variables predicting reported utilization of pain treatment. Results: Of the 902 respondents completing the survey, 676 (75%) reported experiencing “any type of pain.” Of these, 17% reported being diagnosed with chronic pain. Minorities reported a higher average daily pain than Whites (4.75 vs. 3.72; p <.001). However, race/ethnicity did not explain utilization of pain treatment; income, education, age, gender, and pain levels explained more variability in different pain treatment utilization variables than race/ethnicity. Conclusions: Although minorities report higher pain levels than Whites, race/ethnicity does not explain utilization of treatment for pain. Future studies should consider more nuanced examination of interactions among race/ethnicity, pain, and socioeconomic variables.