Feb 16, 2021
Up to 50 percent of medical professionals, like the lay people, believe there are biological differences between the Caucasian and African-American patients' bodies when it comes to pain perception. How much of that is truth and how much is myths and misconceptions is debunked in this episode.
I also explore the factors contributing to the well documented disparities in assessment and management of pain amongst the African-American and black populations. More importantly, I recommend solutions at the individual and broader systems level to improve the pain care for these patients.
Takeaways in This Episode
- Factors that may determine the quality and quantity of care a black patient may receive.
- Racial disparities in pain care and how they show up
- Historic perspective on pain perception, threshold and tolerance of pain among African American and black population
- Factors contributing to pain care disparities for African American and black patients
- In-group bias and how it impacts pain care
- Why everyone in healthcare should take the Implicit Association Test and what that means
- Ways to address pain care disparities at individual and systems level
Links
Pedia Pain Focus Episode # 47. Reliving or Relieving Children's Pain
Pedia Pain Focus Episode # 48. Making Best Pain Care Everywhere Achievable
Enroll in Proactive Pain Solutions Physicians Academy
CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids